Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding bureaucracy?

(a) The term 'bureaucracy' was first used in the Greek form 'bureaucratic' by Greek minister of commerce in the eighteenth century to refer to the government in operation.

(b) The major contributions have come from Marx, Max Weber and Robert Michels.

The correct answer is Only (b).

Key PointsOrigin of Bureaucracy

• The origin of the term is dates back to 18th-century French economist, Jacques Claude Marie Vincent de Gournay.
• However, the term was first used in the English language in 1818 by Lady Morgan, a renowned Irish novelist. Hence statement a is incorrect.
• The word “Bureaucracy” is derived from French word “bureau” which means “desk” or “office” and Greek word “Kratos” which means “political power.”
• By the 20th century, the term had global usage, with its popularity being attributed to the publications of Max Weber, a 20th-century German sociologist. German sociologist Max Weber was the scholar credited in conducting the first formal study on bureaucracy.
• The works of Max Weber, which were referenced by many scholars in the 20th and 21st century, made the term “bureaucracy” to gain global popularity.
• Max Weber also enumerated the characteristics that make up a bureaucracy which include the rigid division of labour, occurring in a fixed area of activity, the presence of a predetermined chain of command, having regulations restricting powers and decisions, technical qualifications being the parameters used in career advancement, and the presence of a hierarchical organization. 
• Other than Max Weber the other contributors are Karl Marx, and Robert Michels.
• Karl Marx discussed in depth the role of bureaucracy in society in his 1843 book entitled, “Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right.” Karl Marx was vocal in his criticism of bureaucracy, stating that bureaucracy would transform governments into civil society.   Hence statement b is correct.