Final answer:
The characteristic of bureaucracy that describes authority and responsibilities being clearly defined for each position is 'hierarchy of authority'. It forms a clear chain of command within an organization, along with other bureaucratic traits such as specialization, formal rules and regulations, and impersonality.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristic of bureaucracy that describes authority and responsibilities being clearly defined for each position is hierarchy of authority. This aspect of bureaucracy establishes a clear chain of command within the organization. For example, in a retail store like Walmart, an employee would report to a shift manager, who in turn reports to the store manager, and so on, up to the CEO who answers to the board of directors.
In addition to hierarchy of authority, bureaucracies are characterized by specialization, where tasks are divided among individuals or groups with specific skills, and formal rules and regulations, which provide explicit guidelines for behavior and decision-making. Lastly, impersonality is another key trait, removing personal feelings from professional situations to protect both members of the organization and the individuals or communities served from favoritism or subjective judgment.