Final answer:
Bureaucracy in formal organizations encompasses processes and procedures used to manage operations efficiently through a hierarchy of authority, division of labor, and explicit rules, while striving to achieve impersonality in professional settings.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hierarchy of authority:
The processes and procedures, both formal and informal, that an organization uses to manage itself on a daily basis are a part of what we understand as bureaucracy. Bureaucracies are vital for structuring large organizations like governments, schools, and corporations which require a hierarchy of authority, division of labor, and explicit rules to function effectively and efficiently.
In formal organizations, bureaucracy is inevitable, given the need for managing tasks of great complexity. The instrumental function of bureaucracy is to be oriented toward a task or goal, streamlining processes to maintain order and productivity within the organization. The ideal type of a bureaucracy, while efficient, might face criticisms for potential waste and rigidity, as it prioritizes the system over the individual, with standardized and often complex rules governing its operations.