Bureaucracy is derived from the word bureau, used from the early eighteenth century in Western Europe to refer not only to a writing desk, but to an office, or a workplace, where officials worked. The original French meaning of the word bureau was the baize used to cover desks. The Greek suffix kratia or kratos means "power" or "rule." Bureaucracy thus basically means office power or office rule, the rule of the officialdom. The term bureaucracy came into use shortly before the French Revolution of 1789, and from there spread rapidly to other countries.

Webbers characteristics of bureaucracy
1. A formal hierarchical structure
Each level controls the level below and is controlled by the level above. A formal hierarchy is the basis of central planning and centralized decision making.
2. Management by rules
Controlling by rules allows decisions made at high levels to be executed consistently by all lower levels.
3. Organization by functional specialty
Work is to be done by specialists, and people are organized into units based on the type of work they do or skills they have.
4. An "up-focused" or "in-focused" mission
If the mission is described as "up-focused," then the organization's purpose is to serve the stockholders, the board, or whatever agency empowered it. If the mission is to serve the organization itself, and those within it, e.g., to produce high profits, to gain market share, or to produce a cash stream, then the mission is described as "in-focused."
5. Purposely impersonal
The idea is to treat all employees equally and customers equally, and not be influenced by individual differences.
6. Employment based on technical qualifications
(There may also be protection from arbitrary dismissal.)
The bureaucratic form, according to Parkinson, has another attribute.
7. Predisposition to grow in staff "above the line."
Weber failed to notice this,