The impact of rational organizations on public administrators: A structural equation model

Abstract

The rational organization has long been an important tool in public administration (Weber, 1968; Simon, 1964; Alkadry, 2003). It is often identified with positive characteristics such as objectivity, expertise, efficiency, fairness and formalization. However, these same positive characteristics can contribute to a “darker side” of rational organizations. Hummel (1994) articulates this as a “bureaucratic experience” resulting from the interaction between administrators and bureaucracy, while others articulate it as the “organization man” experience. In this article, a conceptual model of the relationship between organizational rationalization and administrator experiences is developed. This model is tested using a survey of front-line administrators and a structural equation model of the relationships between these two concepts. The article concludes with a discussion of alternatives to technical rationality.

Citation

Alkadry, M.G. and Nyhan, R.C. (2005), "The impact of rational organizations on public administrators: A structural equation model", International Journal of Organization Theory & Behavior, Vol. 8 No. 2, pp. 155-173. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOTB-08-02-2005-B002