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ABSTRACT:
System approach is a systematic attempt to coordinate all aspects of a problem towards specific
objectives. Webster’s dictionary defines a system as “a regularly interacting or independent group of items
forming a unified whole.” The characteristics of a system of may be explained with the help of an example
– various parts of the digestive system may be called as components of digestive system. Every component
of the digestive system contributes to as supports in functioning of the digestive system as a whole.
A bureaucracy is an organization of non-elected officers of a government or organization who is
implementing the laws, laws, and functions of their institution. In modern society, all formal organizations
are, or will likely become, bureaucracies. Bureaucracy is one of the rational structures that are playing in an
over-growing role in modern society. Thus, the bureaucracy is the key feature of an organization. In
school’s bureaucracy endures because of the assurance of order, rationality, accountability and stability it
provides the public. The school as a goal. The need of mass administration makes it today completely
indispensable. Thus this write up will examine Max Weber's theory of bureaucracy and it will explain its
applicability in the education system.
OBJECTIVE OF THE PAPER:
1. For information about how system approach plays his role in educational management and
administration.
2. For information about how bureaucracy works in the educational management and administration.
3.Evaluate the system approach and bureaucracy’s contribution in the field of educational management an
administration.
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METHODLOGY:
The problem is defined relation to subordinate systems or to which system in
question belong to and to which it is related. The objectives of the system do not
usually lie in the context do the subsystems but must be viewed in relation to a larger
system or the whole system. System design involves processes of thinking such as
induction and synthesis. Planning the conceived as processes where the planner
assumes the role of a leader.
INRODUCTION:
At the end of the 19th century, it was German sociologist and author of The Protestant Ethic and the
Spirit of Capitalism (1905), Max Weber who was the first to use and describe the term bureaucracy. This is
also known as the bureaucratic theory of management, bureaucratic management theory or the Max
Weber theory. He believed bureaucracy was the most efficient way to set up an organisation,
administration and organizations. Max Weber believed that Bureaucracy was a better than traditional
structures. In a bureaucratic organisation, everyone is treated equal and the division of labour is clearly
described for each employee.
WHAT IS BUREAUCRACY?
“Bureaucracy is an organisational structure that is characterised by many rules, standardised
processes, procedures and requirements, number of desks, meticulous division of labour and
responsibility, clear hierarchies and professional, almost impersonal interactions between employees”.
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THE CONCEPT OF BUREAUCRACY:
The term bureaucracy has many meaning from different aspects bureaucracy had become a focus in
interest to social scientists, who has produced numerous literature on the subject. The word
“bureaucracy” was apparently invented in France in 1764.From the very beginning, writers on
bureaucracy have mixed up its description and evaluation. Most of them have thought of bureaucracy
as an evil. For example, the Dictionary of the French Academy had accepted the word in 1798 and
defined it as;
“Power, influence of the heads and staff of governmental bureau.”
Max Weber’s Bureaucratic Management Principles:
1. A formal hierarchical structure:
In the bureaucratic organization, each level controls the level below it. Also, the level above it
controls it. A formal hierarchy is the basis of central planning and centralised decision-making.
2. Rules based management:
The organization uses rules to exert control. Therefore, the lower levels seamlessly execute the
decisions made at higher levels.
3. Function specialty organization:
Specialists do the work. Also, the organization divides employees into units based on type of work
they do or the they possess.
4. Up-focused or in-focused mission:
If the mission of the organization is to serve the stockholders, board, or any other agency that
empowered it, then it is up-focused. On the other hand, if the mission is to serve the organization itself
and those within it, then it is in-focused.
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5. Impersonal:
Bureaucratic organisations treat all employees equally. They also treat all customers equally and do
not allow individual differences to influence them.
6. Employment-based on technical qualifications:
Selection as well as the promotion of employees is based on technical qualifications and skills.
Bureaucracy in educational administration:
Bureaucracy is one of the rational structures that are playing in an over-increasing role in modern
society. Thus bureaucracy is the key feature of an organization. In school bureaucracy endures because of
the assurance of order, rationality, accountability and stability it provides to the public. The school as a
system has goals to meet. The need of mass administration makes it today completely indispensable.
Thus this write up will examine Max Weber’s theory of bureaucracy and it will explain its applicability into
the education system.
The positions within structures are occupied by members who consciously relate to each other to
achieve a set of objectives. In bureaucratic model schools are viewed as having hierarchical authority
with formal chains of command between the different levels. Schools pursue those goals determined by
the official leaders at the apex of the pyramid. Decision-making is still deemed to be rational, based on a
careful evaluation of alternatives and a considered choice of the most appropriate option. Thus the
existence of various administrative offices reduces the workload and congestion at school. The issues can
be solved at classroom level by the teacher whereas cases of indiscipline such as breaking school
property can be solved by the head and the disciplinary committee. This means that the school
administrators strictly controlled and disciplined activities since they have legitimate power.
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CHARACTERISTICS OF BUREAUCRACY:
Bureaucracy derives its authority from law. It depends neither on traditional nor on personal
modes of authority.
Bureaucracy has differentiated offices or units that have specialized competencies and
jurisdictions.
Bureaucracy is characterized by an internally hierarchical system of authority required to bring its
distinctive parts together as part of a unified system of coordination.
Bureaucracy is also characterized by rules and procedures that govern its internal functions. It has
a 'memory' and a set of procedures for dealing with recurring matters.
Bureaucracy is characterized by a full-time staff of officials. In governments, these officials are
known as civil servants; they represent the continuity of the organization of government.
The following three elements of bureaucratic management:
1. All regular activities within a bureaucracy can be regarded as official duties;
2. Management has the authority to impose rules;
3. Rules can easily be respected on the basis of established methods.
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Advantages and disadvantages of the Bureaucratic Theory:
Advantages:
organisations where legislation plays an important role in delivering a consistent output Generally
speaking, the term bureaucracy has a negative connotation and is often linked to government agencies and
large organisations. Nevertheless, the great benefit of a bureaucracy is that large organisations with many
hierarchical layers can become structured and work effectively. It is precisely the established rules and
procedures that allows for high efficiency and consistent execution of work by all employees.
All this makes it easier for management to maintain control and make adjustments when necessary.
Bureaucracy is especially inevitable in.
Disadvantages:
Bureaucracy is characterised by a large amount of red tape, paperwork, many desks, certain office
culture and slow bureaucratic communication due to its many hierarchical layers. This is the system’s
biggest disadvantage of a bureaucratic organization. It is also unfortunate that employees remain fairly
distanced from each other and the organisation, making them less loyal.
Bureaucracy is also extremely dependent on regulatory and policy compliance. This restricts employees
to come up with innovative ideas, making them feel like just a number instead of an individual. Later
research (the human relations theory) demonstrated that employees appreciate attention and want to
have a voice in decision making.
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ITRODUCATION:
System approach to management is basically a way of thinking well are organization is viewed as an
integrated complex of independent (division, department, branch etc.) which are capable of sensitive and
accurate interaction among the themselves and with their environment. Further if generalised away
systems approach is an interdisciplinary approach to think out for solution to a problem in any area of
human activity including educational management, also in teaching learning. System and theoretical
framework to the development procedure of an instructional system. It is a useful necessary background
for the present study.
CONCEPT OF SYSTEM APPROACH:
During the second world war, the concept ‘Systems Approach’ come into use in relation with complex
man-machine system. Then it was applied to other fields. Today, it’s used in the field of education as a
strategy to manage and improve the process and products of education. Briefly defined that.
“The system approach involves a consideration of alternative solution and of choosing those promising
optimisation at maximum efficiency and minimal cost in a complex network of interaction.”
DEFINATION OF SYSTEM APPROACH:
According to Twelkier – “Systems approach is a management tool that allows individuals to examine all
aspects of the organization, to interrelate the effects of one set of decisions to another and to optimally
use all the resources at hand to solve the problem.”
FEATURES OF SYSTEM APPROACH:
(i) A system consists of interacting elements. It is set of inter-related and inter-dependent parts arranged in
a manner that produces a unified whole.
(ii) The various sub-systems should be studied in their inter-relationships rather, than in isolation from
each other.
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(iii) An organisational system has a boundary that determines which parts are internal and which are
external.
(iv) A system does not exist in a vacuum. It receives information, material and energy from other systems
as inputs. These inputs undergo a transformation process within a system and leave the system as output
to other systems.
STEPS INVOLVED USING SYSTEM APPROACH IN EDUCATIONAL
MANAGEMENT:
In the educational management, the steps that are follow of the system approach are mention-
1. Inputs,
2. Process,
3. Outputs and
4. Feedback.
STEPS
1.Inputs
2.Process
3.Outputs
4.Feedback
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FEEDBACK
SYSTEMS APPROACH IN EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT
Inputs Process Outputs
Output is the product of system. Monitored output which is used to revise, improve and evaluated
learners and teacher. A system operates in a physical and social environment. A system can’t operate
beyond the limits and boundaries of its environment context and constraints.
the instructional system. Monitored environment provides feedback to the system approach.
Students
Teacher
Administration
Curriculum
Material
Job opportunity
Institution
Hostel facility
Staff
Environment
Class room
Student achievement
Student improve
Student growth
Teacher performance
Evaluate the instructional
system
Student attitude toward
school
Curriculum
Teachers
Institute
Facility
Methods
Evaluation
Strategies
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SYSTEM APPROACH IN EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION:
Systems approach administration is a system comprising subsystem, structure, people, action and interaction
that enable administration to perform certain functions. Every system influences its subsystems and is also
influenced by its subsystems. This approach might not lead to a solution of all administrative problems but it surely
lends help to generate awareness of the limitation and weaknesses of formal administration in tackling programme
of social and behavioural change. And this systems approach becomes all the modern in today's times where
organisations are growing and expanding and are transcending national boundaries with product diversification and
growing complexity of operations functioning within them and so it is required to integrate them all within a
framework/system for its systematic functioning.
SUBSYSTEM OF EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION:
1.Technical subsystem:
Technical subsystem Includes task activities, skills, techniques, strategies, methodologies,
knowledge etc. required to perform the job.
2. Social subsystem:
Social subsystem consists of individual and their mutual social interaction. includes status, group
norms and values. Greatly influences the behaviour of members of an institution.
3. Structural subsystem:
Structural subsystem implies the interrelationships among people designed formally to accomplish
coordination among them. it also includes physical setting or the it also includes physical setting or the
environment in which work has to be done.
4.Managerial subsystem:
Managerial subsystem uses processes like review, control, direct and evaluation. takes corrective
actions on the basis of the feedback received.
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Importance of System Approach for Education:
1. Framework for planning, decision making control and problem solving.
2. Throws light on dynamic nature of management.
3. Provides a unified focus to institutional efforts.
4. Helps to look at institution as a whole and not as parts.
5. Helps the manager to identify the critical sub systems and their interaction with each other.
6. Helps in improving institution.
7. Helps in bringing efficiency in school administration and management.
8. Helps in systematic educational planning.
9. Maximum utilization of resources.
10. Helps in improving examination and evaluation system.
11. Maintaining controlling and improving the guidance Maintaining, controlling and improving the
guidance services.
12. Designing, controlling and improving non-formal and adult education system.
13. In improving quality of education.
14. In improving the teacher t raining programmes- in –service as well as pre – service.
Advantages & disadvantage of Systems Approach in education:
Advantages:
1. It concentrates on end results rather than the means.
2. It provides an orderly and efficient plan of action.
3. It develops coordination of the specialized activities.
4. It provides a good basis of control
5. It frees management from many daily details of operations management.
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Disadvantages:
1. The approach does not recognize the differences in systems.
2. Over-conceptual
3. Systems philosophy does not specify the nature of interactions and interdependencies.
4. Unpractical: It cannot be easily and directly applied to practical problems.
CONCLUSION:
In spite of certain difficulties and limitations, it provides opportunity to modify and improve the
educational system as best as possible in the light of the evaluation of the outcomes in relation to inputs,
processes, environment constraints and stipulated objectives. Thus system approach has full potentiality to
provide effective control to the process and products of education by solving the various problems in
teaching and learning process. We conclude that system approach is beneficial in efficient learning,
improving quality of education and to maintain control but it is complex. so we have to find ways to make
this approach handy.
Max Weber’s bureaucratic approach worked as a solution to problems of traditional administrative
systems. But it was not the perfect or “close to perfect” solution. The bureaucratic structure gives all the
importance and power to the top level management. And the rules and levels of authority are just too
much. It gives a greater sense of security to the employees. But bureaucratic management gives a window
for “red-tapism.”
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References:
1. Gupta A, Gupta S, International journal of management, July 2013, MIT
Publication.
2. Mulder Patty, https://www.toolshero.com/management/bureaucratic-theory-weber/
3. http://gowthamrock221.blogspot.com/2016/05/system-approach.html
4. https://iedunote.com/bureaucratic-management-theory-max-weber
5. Andrew Muringani, Bureaucracy As A Tool For Administration In Schools, A Study Of Max Weber’s
Approach, Sep 2 2011.
6. https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-system-approach-
management
7. http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/management/system-approach-to-management-definition-
features-and-evaluation/27897
8. http://gowthamrock221.blogspot.com/2016/05/system-approach.html
9.Hasan M, Material, Dept. of education, Raiganj University
10.Sen K.M, Educational Technology(Bengali) Soma Book Agency
