Professionalization and Bureaucratization in Large Professional Organizations

The conflict and interdependence of the processes of professionalization and bureaucratization are examined in large public accounting frims. The emerging pattern of professional bureaucracy reveals the complementarity of previously offered models and depicts a sequential development. Comparative analysis with professional organizations from other occupations indicates that professionalization is positively related to centralization and size of administrative component. The rate of development of the professional bureaucratic process can be affected by changes in organization size and complexity and in capacity to innovate or create new knowledge.