Bureaucratic leadership is where the manager manages �by the book� Everything must be done according to procedure or policy. If it isn�t covered by the book, the manager refers to the next level above him or her. This manager is really more of a police officer
than a leader. He or she enforces the rules.

Bureaucratic leadership style can be effective when:

--Employees are performing routine tasks over and over.

--Employees need to understand certain standards or procedures.

--Employees are working with dangerous or delicate equipment that requires a definite set of procedures to operate.

--Safety or security training is being conducted.

--Employees are performing tasks that require handling cash.

Bureaucratic leadership style is ineffective when:

--Work habits form that are hard to break, especially if they are no longer useful.

--Employees lose their interest in their jobs
and in their fellow workers.

--Employees do only what is expected of them and no more.

References

http://www.essortment.com/all/leadershipstyle_rrnq.htm