A bureaucracy is a complex organization that has multilayered systems and processes. It is an administrative, government, or social system with a hierarchical structure and complex rules and regulations. The term bureaucracy refers to the methods that are commonly established in governments and large organizations, such as corporations, to maintain uniformity and control within the organization. Bureaucracies are designed to make decision-making slow and are pivotal in the administration of the entitys rules and regulations.

Key features of a bureaucracy include:

• Hierarchical structure: Bureaucracies have a vertical hierarchy, with individuals filling positions based on skill or merit (real or perceived).

• Rules and regulations: Bureaucracies have complex systems and processes that are put in place to maintain uniformity and control within the organization.

• Impersonal application of rules: Bureaucracies apply rules and procedures impersonally by specialized agents.

Bureaucracies can be found in workplaces, schools, and governments. They are also used by corporations and public institutions. The term bureaucracy is a hybrid word whose roots go back to French and Greek. Its made up of the French word bureau, which means desk or office, and the Greek term kratein, which means to rule. The word was first officially used in France after the French Revolution.