Rationalisation
For Max Weber, one of the major characteristics of modern
society was the process of rationalisation. This involved institutions
(such as work) and practices becoming increasingly well-organised and
highly-efficient (or bureaucratic - a form of organisation involving distinct
roles, a clear hierarchy of authority, consistent
rules applied to decision-making, etc.) .
An example of a rationally-organised institution with which we are all familiar is the modern supermarket. In many ways, this is an example of the application of "Fordist" principles to the "problem" of how to sell as much as possible to as many people as possible in the quickest, most economically-efficient way possible.
Just like a production line, the task of selling food to people is broken-down into a number of small, highly specialised, roles (check-out operator, shelf stacker, security guard, etc.).
In addition, each supermarket is physically organised to "process people" as efficiently as possible - from the moment they come through the doors (to be greeted by fresh vegetables and the smell of freshly-baked bread) to the moment they leave.