iron cage

Management

(noun)

Weber's theory that a bureaucratic society would result in a situation in which it would be impossible to avoid bureaucracy and thus society would become increasingly more rational.

Related Terms

Sociology

(noun)

a theory proposed by Max Weber which argues that rationalization and rules trap humans in a figurative "cage" of thought based on rational calculations

Related Terms

Examples of iron cage in the following topics:

  • Weber's Model for Bureaucracy

    • Regarding Western societies, Weber called this increasing rationalization an "iron cage" that trapped individuals in systems based solely on efficiency, rational calculation, and control.
    • In his theory, the "iron cage" is the one set of rules and laws that we are all subjected to.
    • Describe Weber's ideal type of bureaucracy and his concept of te "iron cage"

  • Classical Views on Social Change

    • As Weber did not see any alternative to bureaucracy, he believed it would ultimately lead to an iron cage: there would be no way to get out of it.
    • Because Weber could not envision other forces influencing the ultimate direction of society - the exception being temporary lapses into non-bureaucracy spurred by charismatic leaders - he saw no cure for the iron cage of rationality.
    • Weber was unable to envision a solution to his iron cage of bureaucracy dilemma.
    • Since a completely rational society was inevitable and bureaucracy was the most rational form of societal management, the iron cage, according to Weber, does not have a solution.

  • Bureaucratic Organizations: Weber

    • Weber did not see any alternative to bureaucracy and predicted that this would lead to an "iron cage," or a situation in which people would not be able to avoid bureaucracy, and society would thus become increasingly more rational.

  • Electrostatic Shielding

    • When an external electric field operates on a Faraday cage, the charges within the cage (which are mobile, as the cage is a conductor) rearrange themselves to directly counteract the field and thus "shield" the interior of the cage from the external field
    • The action of a Faraday cage may depend on whether or not it is grounded.
    • Consider a charge placed within a cage.
    • If the cage is not grounded, electrons in the cage will redistribute such that the interior wall of the cage takes on a charge opposite the internal charge.
    • As the field is applied, the negative charge from the cage migrates toward the positive end of the field, canceling the effects of the field at both ends of the cage.

  • Thoracic Cage: Ribs

    • Ribs are long curved bones which form the rib cage surrounding the thorax.
    • The thoracic cage can expand and contract facilitating breathing in association with the diaphragm and also protects the lungs, heart and other organs of the thoracic cavity.
    • Finally, the shaft forms the majority of the length of the rib as it curves around the thoracic cavity forming the rib-cage.

  • The Configuration of Free Radicals

    • The concurrent formation of ester and dimeric cycloalkane products from acyl peroxides is common, and reflects a cage effect in homolysis reactions.
    • When a pair of radicals is formed by homolysis, they are briefly held in proximity by the surrounding solvent molecules (the cage).
    • A general description of the cage effect will be displayed in the second diagram above.
    • Cage recombination of radicals may be sufficiently rapid to preserve the configuration of the generating species.
    • Ester formation is clearly a cage product, whereas 2-chloro-1-phenylpropane comes largely from radicals that have escaped the cage and lost configurational identity.

  • The Iron Cycle

    • Iron (Fe) follows a geochemical cycle like many other nutrients.
    • The Terrestrial Iron Cycle: In terrestrial ecosystems, plants first absorb iron through their roots from the soil.
    • Iron is required to produce chlorophyl, and plants require sufficient iron to perform photosynthesis.
    • Animals acquire iron when they consume plants, and iron is utilized by vertebrates in hemoglobin, the oxygen-binding protein found in red blood cells.
    • The Marine Iron Cycle: The oceanic iron cycle is similar to the terrestrial iron cycle, except that the primary producers that absorb iron are typically phytoplankton or cyanobacteria.

  • Thoracic Cage: Sternum

    • The sternum or breastbone is a long flat bony plate connected to the rib bones via cartilage, forming the anterior section of the rib cage.
    • Explain the structure and function of the sternum in the thoracic cage

  • Changes to Iron Production

  • The Iron Curtain