Dictionary.com defines a bureaucracy as:
1. government by many bureaus, administrators, and petty officials.
2. the body of officials and administrators, esp. of a government or government department.
3. excessive multiplication of, and concentration of power in, administrative bureaus or administrators.
4. administration characterized by excessive red tape and routine.
Definitions one and two are relatively benign. Each speaks to the structure with no pejorative overtones (unless you want to attach special meaning to the word "petty" in the first definition).
Both of these definitions, to some degree, make the point that bureaucracy can be neutral in a similar fashion as the concept and application of politics. But without judicious and ethical scheming, the bastards, SOBs and assholes get in there and turn a bureaucracy intended to make things work better into their own playground of power and privilege.
The final two definitions better express how bureaucracies usually work (e.g., Dilbert-ville). The key word in each of these two definitions is "excessive." Oh, how we've all been beat down by useless tasks that are excessive. These bureaucratic burdens dehumanize us all and only serve to justify the air that asshole administrators breathe. They are incapable of creating and producing testimonials to their contributions to the organization so they create reports (i.e. "TPS Reports"), policies, and protocols to try to justify their existence.
THEY ARE PARASITES!
And, according to researcher and author, Robert Sutton–The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't–they cost organizations untold tens of thousands of dollars as good people leave to escape the oppression and new hires are trained at the edge of the revolving door that will serve as their escape and the entrance for the next crop of unknowing victims. The parasitic managers and bosses care nothing for their employees, their families, and the customers or consumers but only for themselves. They are willing to go to any lengths to protect themselves and bolster up the illusion of their own greatness.
Sutton first submitted his work to the Harvard Business Review. He was certain they would reject his research based upon his inclusion of the word "Asshole." However, he had found in the course of interviewing many employees that no other word so clearly allowed his subjects to identify the precise kind of individual he was studying–the asshole. To his surprise, the publisher accepted his word use and published the article. Sutton then went on to publish his work as a full book. Check it out on Amazon and purchase a few to distribute around the periphery of the personal asshole in your workspace.
You already know who they are, but Sutton helps solidify their identification by describing their actions as "suck up and slap down." There! Somone comes to mind, don't they. They act completely different in the presence of their superiors (which they don't realize is almost everyone) than they do with subordinates. Ever been slapped?
Now my particular workplace asshole also had the annoying practice of giving me dangerous directions verbally but requiring me to have hard copy proof of directives if anything went wrong.
He undermined all authority other than his own positional authority and especially ignored or attacked experiential authority based solely upon his positional authority with no personal expertise. (Guess I'm trying to say he didn't know what he was talking about) When he wanders into an area of any depth where his ignorance is sure to be unmasked, he usually states, "That's just details; we need to look at the big picture." Of course, it is his big picture, with no basis in the details that provide the foundation and guidance for the contruction of an accurate big picture.
Sigh. The creator of Dilbert REALLY knows what he's writing about.
Assholes are parasitic bureaucrats who suck the life and enjoyment out of everyone around them and, if left to their own evil devices, will greatly contribute to the erosion of quality and eventual failure of any organization. There is a reason why we shouldn't allow assholes to appear in public!
The only hope for ousting a parasitic bureaucrat, in my opinion, lies in one of the following:
1. Their own lack of a moral compass will eventually beach them on the rocks
2. The truth, spoken bravely by employees or stakeholders with some credibility can awaken others to the evil of the parasite
3. An impressive list of quality employees who fall on their swords and leave
Sad, isn't it?
[EDIT - Since first writing this post, the administrator above lost his position due to #1 and #2 above.]
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