Sociology Chapter 6.3 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is a formal organization?

Large, impersonal organizations.

What are bureaucracies characterized by?

A hierarchy of authority, a clear division of labor, explicit rules, and impersonality.

What are the three categories of formal organizations according to sociologist Amitai Etzioni?

Coercive, utilitarian, and normative.

What are normative or voluntary organizations?

Organizations that people join to pursue shared interests or because they provide some intangible rewards. Signup and view all the answers

What are coercive organizations?

Organizations that people do not voluntarily join, such as prisons or mental hospitals. Signup and view all the answers

What are total organizations?

An organization in which participants live a controlled lifestyle and in which total resocialization occurs. Signup and view all the answers

What are utilitarian organizations?

Organizations that are joined to fill a specific material need. Signup and view all the answers

Who characterized a bureaucracy as having a hierarchy of authority?

Pioneer sociologist Max Weber. Signup and view all the answers

What does the hierarchy of authority refer to in a bureaucracy?

The aspect that places one individual or office in charge of another in a chain of command. Signup and view all the answers

What is the clear division of labor in a bureaucracy?

The fact that each individual has a specialized task to perform. Signup and view all the answers

What do explicit rules in bureaucracy refer to?

Rules that are outlined, written down, and standardized. Signup and view all the answers

What does impersonality in bureaucracy mean?

The removal of personal feelings from a professional situation. Signup and view all the answers

What are meritocracies?

A bureaucracy where membership and advancement is based on merit. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Iron Rule of Oligarchy?

The theory that an organization is ruled by a few elites rather than through collaboration. Signup and view all the answers

What does the McDonaldization of Society refer to?

The increasing presence of the fast food business model in common social institutions. Signup and view all the answers

Can you give an example of the McDonaldization of Society?

In chain grocery stores, processes are organized for efficiency and predictability. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

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.

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Description

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.