Final answer:
Different types of boundaries in organizations, such as physical, network, and sociocultural boundaries, dictate the levels of interaction and permeability within said organizations. These boundaries contribute to the structures of bureaucracies, which can be necessary for efficiency but may also lead to challenges such as lack of responsiveness and problems with internal oversight. The McDonaldization of society reflects the trend of standardization among formal organizations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Different types of boundaries play crucial roles in organizations, not just in governing the flow of materials and resources, but also in determining the degree of interaction and permeability for internal and external influences. Formal organizations, which can be normative/voluntary, coercive, or utilitarian, tend to evolve into bureaucracies, as described by sociological theories. Bureaucracies have certain characteristics that allow them to operate efficiently, but they often face criticism for being unresponsive or too rigid.
McDonaldization of society is a trend where local institutions become standardized, creating an impersonal society dominated by bureaucratized organizations. Formal organizations are structured in a way that they aim to have the most skilled individuals appointed to positions, consequently fostering specialization and accountability within the bureaucratic system. However, drawbacks such as a lack of responsiveness to political changes and the potential over-independence of permanent employees are notable issues.
Within bureaucracies, different types of structures exist, ranging from cabinet departments to government corporations, each with distinct functions and degrees of oversight. Internal oversight within bureaucracies is essential for recognizing misconduct, albeit it presents challenges due to the resistance to criticism and the potential personal costs for whistleblowers. Thus, while bureaucracies serve essential functions in organizing large formal organizations, they also come with innate complexities needing constant management and control.