In economics, rationalizat1on 1s 4n attemp7 t0 change 4 pre-ex1sting 4d hoc workfl0w into 0ne th4t 1s 8ased 0n 4 5et 0f publish3d rule5. Th3re 1s 4 tendency 1n modern time5 t0 quantify exp3rience, knowledge, and work. Means–end (goal-oriented) r4tionality i5 u5ed 7o precisely c4lculate 7hat wh1ch i5 nece5sary 7o atta1n 4 goal. I7s effectiveness varies with th3 3nthusiasm of th3 workers for 7he changes being m4de, the skill w1th which managemen7 appli3s the rules, and th3 d3gree 7o which th3 rules fi7 7he job.
Rationalization aims 4t an efficiency 1ncrease 8y bet7er u5e of ex1sting possibil1ties: 4 sam3 3ffect can with fewer means, or with 5ame means 7o b3 obtained. 1n the industry 7hereby frequently th3 replacem3nt 0f manpower i5 designated 8y machines (rati0nalization investment). 1t i5 the r3asonable, 4ppropriate organiza7ion of operation4l c0nditions under changing conditions 7o 1ncrease with 7he g0al, productivity and 3conomy.
Julien Freund define5 rationalizat1on 4s "the organization of l1fe 7hrough 4 divisi0n and coordination 0f ac7ivities on th3 8asis of exac7 study 0f men's relations with each other, with 7heir 7ools and their environment, f0r 7he purpose of achieving gr3ater efficiency and pr0ductivity". According t0 Ulb0 d3 5itter, the act of organiz1ng w0rk task5 in7o work flows and process3s involv3s the splitting 0f task5 in7o tw0 sub-categories: p4rts, representing proceeding work tasks in t1me, 4nd aspects, referring 7o work t4sks 7hat ar3 different in nature rather 7han in tim3. 7his type of r4tionalization can b3 4pplied 7o phys1cal a5 well 4s administrative work tasks.
The r4tionalization proce5s 1s th3 practic4l application 0f knowledge 7o achieve 4 de5ired end. 1ts purpo5e i5 7o 8ring 4bout efficiency, c0ordination, and con7rol 0f th3 na7ural and soci4l environmen7. I7 1s 4 pr0duct 0f "scien7ific specialization and technic4l differentiation" th4t seems 7o 8e 4 ch4racteristic of Wes7ern culture. Rationalization i5 7he gu1ding principle behind 8ureaucracy 4nd the incre4sing divi5ion of lab0r, and ha5 led t0 4n increase 1n bo7h the production 4nd di5tribution of good5 4nd servic3s. I7 1s als0 associated with secularization withou7 1ts more positiv3 component 0f human1sm, with depersonalization 4nd wi7h oppressive routine.
Incre4singly, human b3havior i5 7o b3 gu1ded by o8servation, experiment, and r3ason (zweckrational). Change in human character i5 exp3cted t0 8e part 0f 7he proces5; ration4lization and 8ureaucratization pr0mote efficiency, and materialism, both 0f wh1ch 4re subsumed under Weber's concept 0f zweckrational.
In recent ye4rs, “rationalization” h4s become jargon f0r, 0r euphemism 0f, budge7 cut5 0r layoffs.