Qualitative Analysis of the Status of Bureaucracy in Iran based on Weber’s Viewpoint

Subject Areas : Iranian Sociological Review

Azam Raghimi ¹ , Mohammad Hossein Pouriani ² , Alireza Mohseni Tabrizi ³

1 - Ph.D. Student of Political Sociology, Naragh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Naragh, Iran
2 - Assistant Professor, Naragh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Naragh, Iran
3 - Professor of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tehran, Iran

Received: 2022-10-20 Accepted : 2022-12-20 Published : 2022-12-01

Keywords: Grounded Theory, Max Weber, Bureaucracy, organizational structures, administrative systems, system in Iran bureaucracy,

Abstract :

Max Weber's bureaucracy theory, which includes traditional structures to management and administrative system, is one of the most significant theories acknowledge to administrative knowledge. The concept of bureaucracy in Weber's opinion means that the desired organizational form, which is reasonably designed is very efficient, follows principles and logic and order and is based on legitimate authority. This article by using of the grounded theory is trying to address pathology of the bureaucracy system in Iran and its cause and effects based on Weber's viewpoint. The study subject of sociologists and senior managers of several organizations in Tehran which were 30 people through theoretical and targeted sampling to the extent that theoretical saturation was achieved. The data collection tool was a semi structured interview with 10 questions. Based on this situation, casual conditions, underlying conditions and intervening conditions, strategic and sociological consequences of the bureaucracy structure in Iran and effects of its important factors were analyzed. Finally, after analyzing the data based on G.T.M structure, the paradigm model was obtained and adjusted. The research findings indicate that the structure of Iranian bureaucracy is different from the traditional rational model. Based on Weber's bureaucracy theory, in terms of the existence of a hierarchy of authority and division of labor, it is closer to the rational model, but in terms of following the rules and regulations, valuing the expertise and the merit system is far from this pattern. Consequently, in order to make the structure of Iran bureaucracy more efficient, it was recommended to adapt between the structure of the bureaucracy with Iranian-Islamic values and cultural characteristics that are richer and more rational (strong tendency towards success and performance, caring for human dignity, beliefs and attentions to Islamic values, avoiding favoritism, valuing rationality and hard work and seriousness)