What underlying cause has led to the emergence of bureaucracies emphasizing efficiency over traditional practices?

The emergence of bureaucracies that focus on efficiency over traditional practices is largely due to the process of rationalization. Rationalization means organizing society and its institutions in a way that emphasizes logic, efficiency, and productivity. This shift began during the Industrial Revolution when businesses needed to operate more efficiently to compete and grow. For example, a factory might streamline its production line to make more products in less time, rather than relying on traditional, slower methods. As a result, bureaucracies began to prioritize systematic procedures and measurable outcomes, often at the expense of older, more personal ways of doing things.