Automated Bureaucracy

The Automated Bureaucracy is a new organizational structure that presents as an alternative to traditional organizational forms, especially to those related to mechanist or mechanized formats. As a model, it is presented as a supplement to Henry Mintzberg's classification (on organizational forms) and would be the sixth configuration, or the sixth organizational form, in addition to the five proposed by H. Mintzberg.

Antecedents

In 1970s, Professor Henry Mintzberg, a renowned academic, offered an organizational classification comprising five basic configurations. Such configurations would explain the formats or structures used in organizations in accordance with a large number of conditions and structural possibilities: (1) the Simple Structure relates to small organizations; (2) the Machine Bureaucracy relates to mass production companies and taylorist and fordist work methods; (3) the Divisionalized Form is used by companies that operate in diverse markets, whether related to different types of products or different geographic areas; (4) the Professional Bureaucracy is common in organizations such as hospitals and universities; and (5) the Adhocracy is an organic structure appropriate for innovation, and that operates mainly by projects.

The emergence of the Automated Bureaucracy

Since Professor Mintzberg presented his classification, many changes have taken place in the world of organizations, mainly thinking of the Machine Bureaucracy, deemed for long time the best structural model for mass production large firms. Such changes have taken place considering a new environment firms have now to face, new strategies applied by them and new kinds of technology now available.

In the face of the new conditions, the Automated Bureaucracy has emerged and has been increasingly established both in industry and service activities. It is a new variation of bureaucracy; a different organizational form, other than that used by large traditional companies, although it cannot be characterized as an Adhocracy.

Characteristics of the Automated Bureaucracy

In the Automated Bureaucracy, many activities have been automatized and they are integrated internally and externally. Internally considering the several sectors of a company, and externally considering suppliers and customers.

The human activities in the Automated Bureaucracy are: (1) monitoring and intervention, (2) maintenance, (3) general improvement and (4) modifications in production. The coordination mechanism is mainly based on values and norms. The manager’s functions and roles relate to support to the new workers’ activities and enlargement of their activities.