Weber’s ideal-type bureaucracy excludes which of the seven characteristics ?
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Answer: C. qualifications based on “whom you know”
Explanation
Weberian bureaucracies select personnel based on formal merit rather than personal ties. Qualifications are evaluated through objective credentials instead of whom you know. Nepotism violates the rational-legal authority principles of ideal-type bureaucracies. Max Weber outlined ideal-type bureaucracy characteristics in his sociological treatises. Rational-legal authority depends on impartial rules and technical competence. Meritocratic recruitment ensures organizational efficiency and professional accountability.
Modern corporations and government agencies strive to eliminate cronyism through HR policies. Civil service exams maintain impartial hiring standards in public administration sectors. Organizational corruption often arises when meritocratic principles are compromised. Clear-cut division of labor is a characteristic included in Weber's bureaucracy model. Pyramidal hierarchy of authority forms a core structural feature of bureaucracies. Written records of decisions and procedures ensure organizational continuity and transparency.
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