Business Questions, Essay Example

What is POSDCORB, and what relevance does it have for management today? The first scholar to seriously study “bureaucracy”, German sociologist Max Weber, considered human bureaucracies to be frighteningly efficient. Today, “bureaucracy” usually conjures images of inefficiency. Describe the major characteristics of bureaucracy. Describe something good about bureaucracy and provide an example. Describe something bad about bureaucracy and suggest a solution.

POSDCORB is an acronym that stands for the words Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Directing, Coordinating, Reporting and Budgeting. Coined under the distinct organizing groups for the Brownlow Committee, this acronym stands for the process of controlling the different procedures in management as well as to how it is applied in relation to how organizations develop managerial considerations as they face different situations in the industry that they are engaged with. This system specifically defines that of the existence of bureaucracy in the separation of the levels of authority that are able to distinguish different levels of power that is specifically handled by each individual. Most likely, it is viewed by the developers of the said system of leadership that bureaucracy is necessary in assuring that there are specific individuals who are given the capacity to direct the organization towards reaching the goals that they are specifically expecting to attain. However, there are instances when bureaucracy that the existence of unhealthy competition becomes a core source of chaos in an organization especially among those who are vying for higher positions in the organization. Likely, such competition could only be resolved through providing fair chances for everyone who have the right capacity and are able to reach the requirements to have a chance on the positions opened for filling.

Can lying by a leader ever be justified by arguing the lie is necessary for the public good?

No leader is supposed to lie even if it is for the sake of public safety or protection. The capacity of a leader to present what the truth is should be a proper characterization of a good leader. Considerably, this is a part of a leader’s social responsibility of presenting the truth that the public needs to know whether or not it might cause other problems or issues that might not be comfortable for them to take into account. Notably, through recognizing this responsibility, leaders are able to impose changes that are needed to make sure that the organization remains responsive to its conditions of responsibility to the public population.

References:

Shafritz, R, and Borick, Introducing Public Administration, 8th Edition, Upper Saddle River, NJ, Pearson, 2013.

Urwick, L. (1956). The Manager’s Span of Control. The Harvard Business Review. May–June, 1956, pp. 39–47.