His theory stems from a dictatorial rule which saw the decline of liberalism. .
Max Weber said there are three types of power in an organisation, they are, traditional power, charismatic power, and bureaucratic power. He gave ten simple features of bureaucracy. The first feature is a clear hierarchy of officers. The second is that the function of the offices is clearly specified. The third is that the officials are appointed on the basis of contract. The fourth, bureaucrats are selected on the basis of professional qualifications, ideally substantiated by a diploma gained through competitive examination. The fifth provides them with a monthly salary and usually pension rights. The sixth feature is that the salary is graded according to position in the hierarchy. The seventh feature states that the official can always leave post, and under certain circumstances it may be terminated. The eighth feature states that the official's post is his sole or major occupation. The ninth gives a career structure, and promotion is possible either by seniority or merit or according to the judgment of superiors. The final and the most important feature is that the officials may appropriate neither the post nor the resources that go with it. The official is subject of unified control and disciplinary system. .
The Weberian theory has been criticised for lacking the human element, being too centralised and rigid for real functioning and leaving loopholes for corruption. Rudolph that a human administration cannot work as a machine and official cannot be technical functionaries. The argument could be that the theory does not hold true in a developing state. Then how did it function well during the British rule? .
Alvin Gouldner has raised the problem with compliance to rules by the officials inside the organisation and says that external conditions also define the behaviour of the official. Benedix, who wrote Weber's biography, argues that a rule can be followed without adherence to external factors such as social and political.
