Final answer:
Bureaucracy is the term sociologists use to describe the characteristics of large, formal organizations such as universities. It involves hierarchically ranked employees, specific job requirements, and formal rules and regulations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bureaucracy is the term sociologists use to describe large, formal organizations such as universities that have hierarchically ranked employees, specific job requirements, and formal rules and regulations to follow. Max Weber, a pioneer sociologist, characterized bureaucracies as having a hierarchy of authority, a clear division of labor, explicit rules, and impersonality. These bureaucratic characteristics are commonly found in various formal organizations and contribute to their efficient functioning.