SECTION A
In this section you will hear a mini-lecture. You will hear the lecture ONCE ONLY. While listening, take notes on the important points. Your notes will not be marked, but you will need them to complete a gap-filling task after the mini-lecture. 144ten the lecture is over, you will be given two minutes to check your notes ,and another ten minutes to complete the gap-filling task on ANSWER SHEET ONE. Use the blank sheet for note-taking.
Characteristics of a Bureaucracy
People usually hold negative opinion towards bureaucracy, but according to Max Weber, bureaucracy has five characteristics, which entail both positive and negative influences on the society.
Division of Labor
Specialized experts are employed in each position to perform specific tasks.
Positive influence: becoming highly skilled and working with 1 1. ______.
Negative influence:
Trained incapacity: workers become so specialized that they develop blind
spots and cannot notice 2 2. ______.
Serious threat to the unemployed.
Sex discrimination due to unnecessary distinctions between men and women.
Hierarchy of Authority
Each position is under supervision of a 3 3. ______.
Positive influence: bringing women advantage at lower levels of bureaucracy.
Negative influence: preventing women from being promoted to higher positions
Women are viewed more as 4 than as innovators, not aggressive enough 4. ______.
to serve in higher management posts.
Written Rules and Regulations
All the work in a bureaucracy is carried out in accordance to specific rules and regulations.
Positive influence: Ensuring 5 of every task. 5. ______.
Offering employees clear job performance standards.
Creating a sense of 6 in a bureaucracy. 6. ______.
Negative influence: Leading to goal displacement, i.e. rules becoming
more important than achieving certain objective.
7 7. ______.
Duty is carried out without personal consideration of people as individuals.
Positive influence: ensuring 8 of each person 8. ______.
Negative influence: leading to cold and uncaring feelings of modern organizations
Employment Based on Technical Qualifications
Hiring is based on technical qualifications, and performance is measured against specific standards.
Positive influence: 9 can be more open and fair. 9. ______.
Loyalty to the organization can be encouraged.
Negative influence: talented people being promoted continuous till they get
to positions 10 10. ______.