Sociology Chapter 6.3 Flashcards

Formal Organizations

• Large, impersonal entities designed for specific purposes or goals.

Bureaucracies

• Key characteristics include hierarchy of authority, clear division of labor, explicit rules, and impersonality.
• Serve as an ideal type of formal organization, not necessarily the "best" but illustrating common traits found in organizations.

Types of Formal Organizations (Etzioni, 1975)

• Coercive Organizations: Involuntarily joined, such as prisons or mental hospitals.
• Utilitarian Organizations: Formed to satisfy specific material needs.
• Normative Organizations: Voluntary groups focused on shared interests or intangible rewards.

Normative Organizations

• Members join to contribute to a cause or for personal fulfillment, exemplified by churches, civic clubs, and advocacy organizations.

Coercive Organizations

• Involves control of all phases of participants’ lives in settings such as prisons and hospitals, often referred to as total institutions.

Total Organizations

• Participants experience complete control over their lifestyle and undergo total resocialization processes.

Utilitarian Organizations

• Entered to fulfill practical or material needs, contrasting with voluntary affiliations.

Characteristics of Bureaucracies

• Hierarchy of Authority: Structured chain of command ensuring accountability at various levels.
• Clear Division of Labor: Specialized tasks assigned to individuals for efficiency.
• Explicit Rules: Clearly defined and standardized guidelines that adapt to changing societal concerns.
• Impersonality: Professional interactions devoid of personal feelings, aiming for efficiency at the potential cost of individual engagement.

Meritocracies

• Employment and advancement based on proven skills and qualifications rather than favoritism.

Iron Rule of Oligarchy

• Suggests organizations tend to be dominated by a small group of elites, reducing collaborative decision-making.

McDonaldization of Society

• Describes the influence of fast-food business models on social institutions, emphasizing efficiency, predictability, calculability, and control.

McDonaldization Example

• Chain grocery stores demonstrate efficiency through task division, predictability through consistent product offerings, calculability via standardized pricing, and control through monitoring like uniforms and surveillance.

Test your knowledge with these flashcards covering key terms from Sociology Chapter 6.3. You'll learn about formal organizations and bureaucracies, including their characteristics and definitions. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of sociological concepts.