Final answer:
Bureaucracies are formal organizations with structured hierarchies and explicit rules, characterizing many aspects of modern capitalist societies. Despite criticisms, they remain prevalent, although there is a trend toward flatter organizational structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bureaucracies are organizational forms surrounded by a cluster composed of span of control, centralization, and formalization. These are formal organizations characterized by a hierarchy of authority, a clear division of labor, explicit rules, and impersonality. Bureaucracies are ideally representative of formal organizations in the context of capitalism, a system in which production and transportation means, like land and factories, are privately owned.
These large, impersonal organizations fulfill an instrumental function, being goal-oriented and focused on tasks. Despite the complaints about bureaucracies being cumbersome and slow, they are a staple in our society, from government to business settings. It is important to note that there's a trend towards flat organizational structures, where the hierarchy is less pronounced, and collaborative work and feedback from all organizational levels are encouraged.