Bureaucracy as management theory in the 21st century? Approach from the Cuban perspective

Abstract

The theory on bureaucracy and its development from Max Weber’s formulation in Germany in the first decades of the past century on are critically assessed. Weber’s assertions and the statements from other well-known advocates of his theory are studied and confronted to Marxist authors’ criteria. Differences between bureaucracy and bureaucratism are distinguished, taking into account the traditional misunderstanding of both terms which has resulted in an a priori spread rejection. Bureaucracy positive and negative features as well as the elements characterizing its manifestations within the Cuban reality are identified and supported by Ernesto (Che) Guevara’s statements. Through Weber’s theory on bureaucracy is inapplicable because organizations are conceived as a closed system, whenever a possibility of change appears in its conceptions an appropriate pursuit of organizational goals can be encouraged then.