Two universal approaches are the bureaucratic model and the System 4 approach. The stereotypical belief about bureaucracies is that they are inflexible, monolithic organizations with uncaring employees who create 'red tape'. The bureaucratic model of organizations was described by Max Weber, a German sociologist. Weber believed that the bureaucratic model was an ideal approach to structuring organizations based on a rational set of guidelines and procedures. Clear division of labour, consistent rules, hierarchy of positions, impersonality, and employment and advancement based on technical expertise.
Bureaucracy can enhance efficiency, logic, and rationality in large organizations.
Bureaucracy tends to lead to inflexibility and rigidity, which slow decision making and create a general inability to respond to rapid changes or crises. Because of the drawbacks, businesses and other types of organizations looked for alternative approaches. Rensis Likert distinguished between what he called System 1 and System 4 organizations. System 1 is the traditional bureaucratic organization. The antithesis of System 1 is System 4.