SYG 2001

Week 3: Individual Work (Worksheet)

If you have ever worked a job, went to school, or had to deal with a government agency, youve
likely encountered bureaucracy. Bureaucracy is a hierarchy of organization. While it serves many
positive functions, it can also create a good deal of red tape and small thinking.
This week we will explore Bureaucracy, the Bureaucratic Personality, and Groupthink. Why are
these patterns of behavior harmful? How can they be useful?
Please respond to all of the following prompts:
1. Define Bureaucracy, the Bureaucratic Personality, and Groupthink
Define Bureaucracy:
Bureaucracy is an administrative system distinguished by a clear hierarchy,
written rules and regulations and impersonal relationships.
Define the Bureaucratic Personality:
A person with a bureaucratic personality is disciplined, coherent, and prudent but
also shallow and narrow minded.
Define Groupthink:
Groupthink is a process of making decisions through mutual consensus which
results in typically unchallenged and dysfunctional decision making outcome.
2. Examine a time that you have encountered Bureaucracy. What was your experience
like?
Where have you encountered Bureaucracy (School, Work, State Offices etc.)?
Bureaucracy is a common phenomenon in the work environment especially government
sector. I experienced it during my job at a state office.
What was your experience like?
It wasn't a pleasant experience for me as it killed my individuality and creativity at that
place of work.
3. Describe why Groupthink and the Bureaucratic Personality can be dangerous. In
what ways can they be useful?
Describe why the Bureaucratic personality can be dangerous:
A person with bureaucratic personality doesn't thrives well in case an unusual
scenario arises for which there are no predetermined rules and regulations. Such
authorities are notoriously undemocratic and narrow minded individuals.
Describe how Groupthink can be dangerous?
Groupthink policy in a business environment causes the employees and their
supervisors to neglect potential issues on hand in order to reach a consensus thinking. As

critical thinking at individual level is not welcomed, employees do not participate

actively and are de-motivated in discussions for fear of upsetting the authorities
How can Groupthink and the Bureaucratic Personality be useful?
Though the vices of Groupthink and Bureaucracy are evident, they are not
entirely bad for organizations. Group thinking creates a sense of compassion for others
viewpoint, teamwork skills, quick decision making in time of crisis, and reduces the
costs. In Bureaucracy on the other hand decisions are made on merit and are highly fair
as they are made following a specific set of guidelines. In work setup it creates a sense of
security in employees such as a steady paycheck.

4. Apply Functionalism to Bureaucracy. (If needed, go back to Week 1. We covered this in

our Week 1 discussion and Chapter 1 readings.)
How can we apply Functionalism to Bureaucracy?
We can apply functionalism to bureaucracy by reducing the number of state officials to
minimum of what the constitution demands as it would increase the functionality and at
the same time would reduce the costs as well.