Bureaucracy is an unavoidable part of a modern society, present in most spheres of life. In simple terms, it is a complex organization of multilayered systems and processes guaranteeing that the state officials are the main decision-makers, rather than the elected representatives (Banton, 2020). The decision-making process under bureaucracy is often slow and render formal and rigid system, which can be crucial where strong safety procedures are required.
As mentioned above, bureaucracy is an inherent part of most spheres of life and society. Nevertheless, there are negative connotations associated with the term due to the inefficiency of the system. In a practical sense, this means that no decision can be made without it being passed on through dozens of departments and their heads (Chung & Bechky, 2018). This can be incredibly frustrating if one is, for example, applying for a visa, or doing a project that requires a governmental approval. Furthermore, there are often complaints from the citizens about the waste of taxpayers’ money on bureaucratic procedures (Longley, 2021). Although this might hinder the expression of freedom for citizens, it also guarantees safety and stability for those under the protection of bureaucratic structures.
I have often encountered problems with bureaucracy, which might be due to the difference between the immediate effects of the downsides and the long-term benefits. In other terms, the downsides are immediately obvious, such as when one is forced to spend hours queueing for a single signature (Longley, 2021). On the other hand, the benefits are not as obvious as they are often less direct and span over a long time. However, there are ways of minimizing the downsides – such as, by preparing all the right documents and being organized, and by knowing how to occupy oneself in the waiting line.
References
Banton, C. (2020). Bureaucracy. Investopedia. Web.
Chung, D. E. & Bechky, B. (2018). When bureaucracy is actually helpful, according to research. Harvard Business Review. Web.
Longley, R. (2021). What is bureaucracy, and is it good or bad? ThoughtCo. Web.
done in as little as 1 hour