George Ritzer is the person who came up with this idea. The concept of fast-paced, busy life is a growing trend. Today’s people are prone to a microwave-mindset. People will often stick to their goals or plans if they have set them out. e.g. People plan to enter a shop, get the items on their list and then leave. Today’s people prefer one-stop stores and shops that are replicas from previous stores. Walmart has an organized store that makes it easy for shoppers to know exactly what aisles to visit to pick up the necessary items such as food, clothing, or electronics.
McDonaldization can be cured by efficiency, predictability and calculability. Nonhuman technology is also a factor. Efficiency is defined as achieving a target in the shortest time possible. Target’s different managers and employees who know the details of each department is an example of McDonaldization. It’s a great advantage to have managers and employees in each department. Customers can get quick service, and all their questions are answered. One disadvantage is that having more employees will result in the distribution of more money. Predictability means that a customer who walks into any store can grab the necessities they need with the same price, organization, and ease. It is predictable when a customer knows the store well and doesn’t waste time. When the store does not have the product the customer wants, they will often look elsewhere. It is not good if no one carries it. Calculability is also important. This means that it must be possible to calculate. Target, for instance, can keep track of its inventory and know what products are most popular. The company benefits from this because it knows how many of each product to order in the coming month. The inventory process takes a lot of time. This could mean paying overtime for employees to complete inventory. If this isn’t done correctly, the order may be incorrect. Target has a self-checkout, which is an example. It is for those who only have a few items to buy and want to leave quickly. Also, the self-checkout is often very quick. The only disadvantage is when a person’s cart is full with many items. This can cause them inconvenience. It is difficult to remove the unpaid items from the cart while trying to add paid products. The self-checkout does not provide any help with bagging all that stuff. Control refers to the rules which must be adhered to by employees and customers. Targett prohibits customers from going behind food court counters and behind doors. They are marked as employee-only. The employee must wear a uniform. It is advantageous to have a sanitary food area and identifiable employees. Employees who don’t clean their uniforms may look dirty when behind the counter.
McDonaldization is a significant step in the society because it brings better service and quicker response times. McDonaldization is a significant step in bringing better service to society. The system will start to breakdown when rationality becomes irrational. The service slows down, the inventory gets inaccurate, the technology breaks down, and employees are not properly staffed. Target is a good example of the irrationality in rationality. Target Douglasville does not seem to restock the shelves very quickly. As a busy college student who has limited time available, I don’t like having to return several times to check if my item is still there. I am unable to locate employees, or if they do appear, it is not the right person. The Target near me is very different in layout from the Target at my house. This means I am often lost, and no employees are around to assist me. Target’s attempt to run its business with fewer and fewer employees isn’t a success. Customers are unable to get the help they need because there are less employees at Target. It may take longer for a customer to experience the overall experience at target because of unorganized areas, employees not being present and possibly no staff. This can lead to loss of customers, money, and product.
McDonaldization can be defined as the desire for immediate and fast service. We are all overworked, overscheduled in today’s society. Many people feel that they have no time left for their friends and families, and don’t want to waste their time on errands. A McDonald’s employee may feel alienated by the process. Marx’s theory on alienation is the state of being isolated from society, the workplace, or one’s sense of self. The worker has no connection to the people and products. He feels detached from his workplace. Max Weber’s Iron Cage is another concept. Iron Cage is a term used to describe a social institution that has trapped an individual. Today, people are more focused on the products they purchase and their perceived value.
McDonaldization is not a good thing for society. The modern society is more busy and self-centered. The society has become more self-centered, with people wanting the latest gadgets, clothes, and shoes. In the modern world, people are less concerned with building relationships. We’re losing the importance of a real community. McDonaldization is something I can benefit from. I can still get to class on time if I run out and get a cup or coffee, or if I run through the drive-through.
Works Cited
Griffiths, H., Keirns, N. J., Strayer, E., Cody-Rydzewski, S., Scaramuzzo, G., Sadler, T., … Jones, F. (2017). Introduction to Sociology 2e.