Final answer:
The characteristic described in the question reflects the diverse strategies that formal organizations use to achieve their objectives. These organizations fall into normative, coercive, or utilitarian categories and can be characterized by bureaucracy or tendencies like 'McDonaldization'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question "Organizations must select any of innumerable ways of seeking to attain its objective is a characteristic of _______?" refers to a concept within sociology and business studies pertinent to how formal organizations operate and pursue their goals. The blank in the question appears to represent the various strategies and structures businesses and organizations utilize to achieve their objectives. Formal organizations are those structured groups such as businesses, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) which have specific objectives and which operate according to certain protocols or bureaucratic systems.
Generally, organizations can be classified into three main categories: normative or voluntary, coercive, and utilitarian. Normative organizations are based on shared interests and are joined voluntarily because membership provides intangible rewards. Examples include clubs and charitable organizations. Coercive organizations, such as prisons, require individuals to be coerced or compelled to join. Utilitarian organizations offer specific material rewards and include entities like businesses or schools. The ideal type of formal organization, in a sociological sense, is often referred to as a bureaucracy, characterized by a systematic structure and a high degree of organization.