Final answer:
The correct characteristics of bureaucracies are Efficiency, Hierarchy, Formal Rules, Impersonality, and Technical Competence, and they seek rational-legal authority.
Step-by-step explanation:
Characteristics of Bureaucracies and Types of Authority
Bureaucracies are formal organizations characterized by certain features. These include a hierarchy of authority, a clear division of labor, explicit rules, and impersonality. Sociologist Max Weber is known for his detailed analysis of this type of organization. Based on your question, the correct answer is A) Efficiency, Hierarchy, Formal Rules, Impersonality, Technical Competence - Bureaucracies seek rational-legal authority. Bureaucracies aim to be efficient by using set rules and roles to formalize work processes, which can sometimes lead to customer complaints about the impersonal nature of their service as seen in large corporations like Walmart.
In contrast, charisma, decentralization, and personal relationships are usually associated with traditional authority or charismatic authority, which are fundamentally different from rational-legal authority that relies on legal norms and rules to establish power and control in an organization.