...2015 What is McDonaldization Do you like fast food such as hamburgers and french fries? I like cheese burger pretty much, it not just as a banner of fast food and also is a part of the culture. With the developing of the fast food industry, the culture of fast food affects more and more people even causes some social phenomenons. For example, if people think about the symbolic culture of America, I will choose hamburgers. Because, the fast food industry has been rooted in international culture through global economic integration. Thanks to George Ritzer who is an American sociologist, professor, and author who studies globalization, metatheory, patterns of consumption, and modern and postmodern social theory. He creates a new definition, McDonaldization which draws upon Max Weber's idea of rationalization through the lens of the fast food industry. This definition helps people gain a better understanding of how fast food industry affects the whole society. McDonaldization is an academic term that coined by George Ritzer to describe a unique sociological phenomenon in his book The McDonaldization of Society (1993). McDonaldization means a process that makes cooking group or catering enterprise focus on efficiency, calculability, predictability and control shape organization. This improving trend will make fast food services transform mass production. It solves the most important problem that how to realize industrial globalization. In my mind, McDonaldization is a definition...
Words: 1164 - Pages: 5
...go today, we are faced with McDonaldization. So, to some extent, all of us are caged on a daily basis by the over-rationalization of society. The velvet cage is a reflection in my life because I literally grew up on McDonald’s assembly-line Happy Meals. As a result of becoming comfortable with McDonaldization, I have grown to depend on fast, predictable products and services in all areas of my life. For instance, I take my clothes to a 24-hour dry cleaners. I use JiffyLube to quickly change the oil in my car. Almost every day, I access an ATM machine instead of standing in line at the bank. And, I pay for and pump my own gas without ever seeing an attendant. Although, having said that, there are alternatives to some of these examples of McDonaldization. Therefore, I do not feel defenseless against this process because there is comfort in knowing that (for example) fast food restaurants are a steadfast viable choice for a quick meal when you do not have a lot of time to shop for healthier, better quality foods. Let’s face it. Realistically, we live in a contemporary society today that is on the move. We want what we want, at the exact time that we want it. And, for that convenience, there will be times when I am willing to compromise quality for quantity. On the other hand, Ritzer’s ideas on the iron cage are also a reflection in my life. Whenever I do have the time, which isn’t often, I will “fight back” against McDonaldization by shopping for fresh groceries...
Words: 2863 - Pages: 12
...Sarah Falusi P12196126 Full Time | What are the effects of McDonaldization upon jobs and employees? | Dr David Robotham | | The intention of this essay will be to discuss and analyse the effects of Mcdonaldization on jobs and employees. The term “McDonaldization”, according to George Ritzer (1993), can be said be the process of rationalisation, although taken to extreme levels. Rationalisation is a sociological term that simply means the substitution of logically consistent rules for traditional (or illogical) rules. One of the fundamental aspects of McDonaldization is that almost any task can (and should) be rationalised. The procedure of McDonaldization, most often used in the fast food industry although it can be seen in all aspects of society, takes a process and breaks it down into several smaller ones. This is then repeated until all tasks have been broken down to the smallest possible tasks. These following tasks are then rationalised to find the single more efficient methods for completing each process. All other methods are then considered to be inefficient and are then forgotten as the new method is then adopted. The product is a new efficient, logical arrangement of procedures that can be completed the same way every time to produce the desired outcome with usually a minimal amount of application and time as all unnecessary steps are eliminated. The way in which McDonaldization is different from bureaucracy (a system of government in which most of the...
Words: 1600 - Pages: 7
...McDonaldization of Society Carlos S Maguino Submitted to: My Instructor Cuyahoga Community College SOC 1010 Introduction to Sociology Instructor: Professor Rachel Stehle May 26, 2013 Review McDonaldization of Society my experience from McDonald’s today in our society and culture are booming phenomenon in our economic and around the world. It stands firmly to fast food chain industry, that remaining at number one rank business for many decades and from what I see McDonald’s business have more decades to come in our future. Most in our society can notice the McDonaldization of society in American and around the world with the impact of a simple hamburger taking not only economic effects, but also affecting our social life in general. These affects are directly related to both the consumer and the producer. Because I see that this changes are beneficial in term of providing efficient service as well as predictable control and quality over goods. In my opining these good qualities also lead to detrimental issues of irreversible values. I see evidences of change’s Mcdonaldization not only in the fast food industry but it how yourself us a consumer see goods thinks. These changes can be shown in different business around our society not only in McDonald organization. One example I see was our system of healthcare has also suffered this changes, making our hospital or medical care an impersonal experience in our society...
Words: 1251 - Pages: 6
...McDonaldization is the process by which the principles of the fast-food industry have been applied to other sectors of American society and the world. Efficiency has found the typical college student sitting at home, rather than a classroom, taking a test or turning in a completed assignment. All done without ever leaving the comfort of home or coming face to face with the instructor. This could be at any time of the year, as we also have the ability to take classes all throughout the year, not only during a spring or fall semester. Calculability leaves students to be judged by statistics and grades; the total experience summed up by standardized evaluations; experience has no room for assessment. Predictability has the same courses following...
Words: 338 - Pages: 2
...Reading Discussion: “The McDonaldization of Society” by George Ritzer George Ritzer’s assertion on the McDonaldization of our society is very relevant and it defines the sociological phenomenon that is happening in our society.In his book,he nicely compasses the concepts to provide a profound understanding of our modern society.He explains,it becomes manifested,when a culture adopts the characteristics of a fast-food restaurant.The revolutionizing influence of fast-food restaurants are coming to dominate all the world and it has led to the establishment of dozens of clones in every branch of retail industry.The principles of fast-food restaurants are coming to dominate all the world.It doesn’t only affect our food industry but everything else we do,from our healthcare to education.In today’s world,people are very busy in their jobs and daily routine works and there is a need of efficiency,calculability,predictability and control....
Words: 453 - Pages: 2
...footage of a unique event or an action in the world is shared in cyberspace for everyone to see; these are small affects of globalization in life. Globalization integrates economy and cultures of different regions of the world through trading, telecommunication, technology, human migration, and capital flows. Incentive of the integration may be economic, political, cultural, technological or humanitarian. George Ritzer’s invented term, McDonaldization, is a subset of the globalization phenomenon. Ritzer compares globalization with characteristic of a fast-food restaurant. The characteristic includes measuring efficiency by pace of serving customers, which means the fastest worker is the efficient one; getting a large amount of food in a very low price; receiving constant and predictable service from distinctively similar workers. Ritzer believes the fast-food characteristic is dominating different sectors of American society and the entire world. In fact, this is the irresistible effect of globalization. The phenomenon, which Ritzer calls McDonaldization, is neither new nor destructive; it is just how firms coexist in free comparative market. Accepting globalization instead of resisting it, would help to promote global prosperity. Educating different aspects and strength points of globalization and its impacts on economy, culture and politic would ease the acceptance. Globalization impacts the world economy with diverse effects. Roger A. Arnold, in his book Economics states that...
Words: 2005 - Pages: 9
...“Hospitality means satisfy a guest’s need for shelter and lodging and those which provide their patrons with food and beverages.” (Chon and Sparrowe, 1995, p. 3) It is a relationship between a guest and a host. Hospitality always refers to the hospitality industry likes hotels, restaurants, resorts, clubs and any other else. The hospitality industry has become one of the biggest industries in the world. A hospitality service is an intangible factor in the hospitality industry. It is what the host given to the guest for their needs. It is the important part in hospitality industry. “Standardization refers to the situation where uniformity is achieved either in outputs (products or services) and / or in the processes that produce such outputs.” (Taylor, 2000, p. 51) It is using the same ingredients, recipes, prices, and etc. In the setting of customer service, standardization is the processes making the organizations to focus their attention in provide a great customer service. It is satisfying the customer expectations and needs. The motivation for standardization comes from a number of sources. “These include the aspiration for reducing costs and improving reliability of systems. By promising that reliable and interoperable standard exists, it is possible to dodge being locked into specific vendor’s products and ensure healthy race to improve quality, reduce costs, and guarantee reliability of supply.” (Ratha and Govindaraju, 2008, p. 473) I am agree with the statement that standardization...
Words: 2575 - Pages: 11
...Question: How influential is Scientific Management in 21st Century? Please note: The referencing system used in this essay is NOT the Harvard System and therefore INCORRECT practice. Please ignore this style of referencing, the essay is shown as a model of good practice only re structure and analysis. How influential is scientific management in the 21st century? 1. Scientific management was originally developed in the 1800s by an economist, Adam Smith. He was interested in a factory that operated and produced pins, and through the breaking down of tasks e.g. division of labour he increased output from 20 pins per employee per day to 4,800 pins. However the greatest break through in scientific management came in the 1900s during the peak of the industrial revolution, and due to the emergence of the factory system more attention was being given to methods or factors that could contribute towards increasing output levels. It was here that Frederick Taylor began his studies into this field and his ideas were later furthered by individuals such as Gilbreth and Gantt. Despite each individual having a significant input into the study of scientific management Taylor was widely regarded as the ‘Father of Scientific Management’ and hence the term ‘Taylorism’ being introduced. 2. Technically Scientific Management is the “management thought concerned primarily with the physical efficiency of an individual worker”[1]. However George Ritzer defined Scientific Management...
Words: 3243 - Pages: 13
...Fast Food Nation: The McDonaldization of Society The term McDonaldization was introduced by George Ritzer. According to Ritzer (1996), the term described a sociological phenomenon that he noticed in society. When the concept of the McDonaldization was first introduced, it was viewed as a process of rationalization. Rationalization is viewed as a means of substituting consistent rules for traditional rules. The aspects of McDonaldization centers on the belief that any task presented can be rationalized. These concepts of Max Weber’s views on the structural change that occurs when humans interact and develop identities. This is compared to the principles of the fast food industry that dominates society. According to Larner and Spoonley (1995), the views of Weber’s analysis of society supports that notion that people will support traditional ways of thinking as an ends and means of viewing the world. When the fast food restaurant was first introduced, it was not seen as a traditional means of providing meals for families, but it has become a force that represents the process of rationalization when providing food for all families. Fast food restaurants have become huge in all American families. The fast food industry has grown faster than any other industry, to include the bookstores, childcare facilities, and toy stores. This process as viewed as the chain mentality. The chain mentality is when a concept or establishment becomes a force that comes to us. For example, fast food...
Words: 1065 - Pages: 5
...Question: How influential is Scientific Management in 21st Century? Please note: The referencing system used in this essay is NOT the Harvard System and therefore INCORRECT practice. Please ignore this style of referencing, the essay is shown as a model of good practice only re structure and analysis. How influential is scientific management in the 21st century? 1. Scientific management was originally developed in the 1800s by an economist, Adam Smith. He was interested in a factory that operated and produced pins, and through the breaking down of tasks e.g. division of labour he increased output from 20 pins per employee per day to 4,800 pins. However the greatest break through in scientific management came in the 1900s during the peak of the industrial revolution, and due to the emergence of the factory system more attention was being given to methods or factors that could contribute towards increasing output levels. It was here that Frederick Taylor began his studies into this field and his ideas were later furthered by individuals such as Gilbreth and Gantt. Despite each individual having a significant input into the study of scientific management Taylor was widely regarded as the ‘Father of Scientific Management’ and hence the term ‘Taylorism’ being introduced. 2. Technically Scientific Management is the “management thought concerned primarily with the physical efficiency of an individual worker”[1]. However George Ritzer defined Scientific Management...
Words: 3243 - Pages: 13
...To evaluate this statement we first need to define what the mechanistic and learning approach is. Then define exactly what organisational learning is and what impact the characteristics of the mechanistic approach will have on it. The two approaches involve theories and models about the adaptability and the learning skills of organizations. Bureaucracies clearly lack these characteristics in comparison to other approaches. The mechanistic approach operates the organisation in the same way a machine operates - efficient, specialised, reliable, predictable, logical and with no opinions (has no heart). The model which refers to this approach would be the Taylor model (Taylorism - 21st century scientific management). Frederick Winslow Taylor was a mechanical engineer who strived to improve industrial efficiency. He was a pioneer in the field of scientific management. The Taylor model consists of 4 components. 'Division of labour' where responsibility is shifted from worker to manager. 'One best way' where the scientific methods determine the most efficient way to operate. 'Scientific selection and training' which means the best person is selected depending on experience and qualifications. They are trained to work as efficiently as possible. Finally, 'monitor performance' where operations and performance is observed and monitored through an organisational hierarchy and through supervision. This basic concept further developed into Fordism and finally into TQM. The...
Words: 1956 - Pages: 8
...The Negative Effects of McDonalds McDonald’s is one of the most recognized organizations in the world. Since its first restaurant was opened in 1940, McDonald’s has served billions of customers. According to the McDonald’s corporate website, they have over 30,000 restaurants in over 100 countries, which serve around 58 million people each day. The world’s largest chain of hamburger fast-food restaurants is one of the most influential facets of the global marketplace, and its assembly-line process of doing business is driving down costs and sky-rocketing profitability; however, these cost cuts do not come without a price. Although McDonalds and other fast-food restaurant chains like it have been highly successful in terms of efficiency, there are subtle negative effects on the labor force and society as a whole. McDonald’s provides the most efficient method for people to go from a condition of satiety. However, the forthcoming side effects must be recognized and respected in order to fully understand the impact that McDonalds has on our world. Efficiency means the choosing of means to reach a specific end rapidly, with the least amount of cost of effort. The idea of efficiency is specific to the interests of the industry or business, but is typically advertised as a benefit to the customer. Examples are plentiful: the drive-up windows, salad bars, fill your own cup, self-serve gasoline, ATM’s, Voice Mail, microwave dinners and supermarkets with self-checkout. The...
Words: 968 - Pages: 4
...Mcdonaldization Although, especially in the United States, the ubiquitous hamburger chain has been around long enough for academics and other commentators repeatedly to have drawn attention to its social effects and analogies in other fields, it is the sociologist George Ritzer who coined the phrase in his book "The Mcdonaldization of Society" (Ritzer, 1996). In his book, which he describes as a work in social criticism, Ritzer analyses the particular ways in which the success of the American hamburger chain has impacted upon not only economic patterns, but in particular on a multitude of facets of social life in general. Basing his analysis on Max Weber's theory of rationalisation, he draws on extensive empirical and anecdotal data to trace these influences. Mention have been made of the fact that the pattern of rationalisation which is so very patently typified by McDonald's, is by no means restricted to the domain of the fast-food market. In fact, in the modern society the first real representative of this wave is probably the supermarket, which came to the fore as a replacement for the corner store and has since itself been superseded by all sorts of hypermarkets. Also in the world of entertainment and healthcare, similar developments have taken place. As far as the first is concerned, video shop chains and Disneyland are pertinent examples, while nobody who has been to a private hospital or medical centre lately, needs to be reminded that the much idealised house doctor...
Words: 858 - Pages: 4
...to McDonaldization R ay Kroc (1902–1984), the genius behind the franchising of McDonald’s restaurants, was a man with big ideas and grand ambitions. But even Kroc could not have anticipated the astounding impact of his creation. McDonald’s is the basis of one of the most influential developments in contemporary society. Its reverberations extend far beyond its point of origin in the United States and in the fast-food business. It has influenced a wide range of undertakings, indeed the way of life, of a significant portion of the world. And having rebounded from some well-publicized economic difficulties, that impact is likely to expand at an accelerating rate in the early 21st century.1* However, this is not a book about McDonald’s, or even about the fastfood business,2 although both will be discussed frequently throughout these pages. I devote all this attention to McDonald’s (as well as to the industry of which it is a part and that it played such a key role in spawning) because it serves here as the major example of, and the paradigm for, a wide-ranging process I call McDonaldization3—that is, the process by which the principles of the fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society as well as of the rest of the world.4 * Notes may be found at the back of the book, beginning on page 233. 1 01-Ritzer5-45349.qxd 8/7/2007 1:07 PM Page 2 2——THE M C DONALDIZATION OF SOCIETY 5 McDonaldization has shown...
Words: 9634 - Pages: 39
