Bureaucracy is an organisation of a hierarchical sort, which takes the form of a pyramid of authority, with clear lines of command and responsibility. The term 'bureaucracy' was popularised by Max Weber, who considered it the most efficient type of large-scale human organisation in modern society. According to Weber, bureaucracy is characterised by a division of labor, a clearly defined hierarchy, formal rules and regulations, impersonality, and a focus on technical competence. As organisations grow in size and complexity, Weber argued, they inevitably tend to become more and more bureaucratised to manage their operations effectively.