“Bureaucracy” has become a catchall term for the many ways in which organizations squander workers’ potential. From needless paperwork to delusional project timelines, administrative overhead can prevent workers from doing the meaningful tasks that contribute to the organization’s bottom line. Employees perceive bureaucracy to be an immovable beast, blocking their path toward efficient, satisfying work lives.
When Bureaucracy Is Actually Helpful, According to Research
Red tape isn’t always a burden.
January 03, 2018
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Summary.
“Bureaucracy” has become a catchall term for the many ways in which organizations squander workers’ potential. And all organizations need some bureaucratic elements. Projects that involve complex technical work must be tracked and coordinated across departments; budgets must be accounted for; and costs must be kept in line. Research finds two ways that experts in organizations can figure out how to make bureaucracy work for them, rather than against them. First, they can recognize that making bureaucracy work allows them and their colleagues to maintain a sense of control over the tasks they care about. And second, they can treat it as a shared, rather than an individual, burden.