Mcdonaldization thesis

McDonald's serves as the case model of this process in the 's. Another example could be McUniversities, which features modularized curricula, delivering degrees in a fast-track pick-and-mix fashion to satisfy all tastes.

Look around, and you will be surprised to find that you will notice the impacts of McDonaldization throughout your life.

The mcdonaldization of society pdf

Workers in these conditions engage in repetitive, routinized, highly focused and compartmentalized tasks that are quickly and cheaply taught, and thus easy to replace. With the rise of predictability, the third component, all consumers can predict receiving the same service and the same product every time they interact with the McDonaldized organization. McDonaldization is a reconceptualization of rationalization, or moving from traditional to rational modes of thought, and scientific management. According to Ritzer, McDonaldization is comprised of four main components: efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control. Pick your own apples, pumpkins, or blueberries? The "news bites" of USA Today have changed the way most local papers present the news, perhaps even the way we see and hear the news on TV-take a look at Headline Network News. Specifically, replacement of human by nonhuman technology is often oriented towards greater control. The spin-off series in television programming, or the success of authors like Tom Clancy, also represent the importance of predictability: We get to follow our favorite characters and the publishers and producers can be assured of a predictable profit. There is less theft.

Have you ever worked a job like this? This also applies to the workers in those organizations.

Airplanes are already under the control of computers, pilots merely oversee the process. Specifically, replacement of human by nonhuman technology is often oriented towards greater control.

Third, predictability is the idea that no matter where a person goes, they will receive the same service and receive the same product every time they interact with the McDonaldized organization. And, as these systems expand and develop interdependencies amongst themselves-both nationally and internationally, the possibility of a small number of individuals exercising tremendous control over the people dependent upon the systems becomes increasingly realistic.

In sociology, rationalization refers to the replacement of traditions, values, and emotions as motivators for behavior in society with rational, calculated ones.

Mcdonaldization thesis

You will find that goods are sold by the pound, so that you can weigh your fruit and vegetable purchase rather than simply guessing at the price for that bag of onions, while the employees use a timecard to calculate their hours and receive overtime pay calculability. From their environmental impact to their role in the U. Components of McDonaldization According to Ritzer, McDonaldization is comprised of four main components: efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control. How long will it be before these rational systems evolve beyond the control of people. Pick your own apples, pumpkins, or blueberries? There is an increased need for employees with postgraduate degrees. The scanners are replacing the checkers, but they also allow for more control over the customer; prices are no longer on the items we buy so we have less ability to oversee our spending and the accuracy of the store's charges. Finally, control within McDonaldization is wielded by the management to ensure that workers appear and act the same on a moment-to-moment and daily basis. According to Ritzer, McDonaldization is comprised of four main components: efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control. By that, I mean that they deny the basic humanity, the human reason, of the people who work within or are served by them. Efficiency in McDonaldization means that every aspect of the organization is geared toward the minimization of time. George Ritzer: George Ritzer is a sociologist who studies American patterns of consumption, globalization, metatheory, and modern and postmodern social theory. It's not only the food industry that represents this process of McDonaldization.

Then you have been socialized to complete the production or distribution process for free, thus aiding a company in achieving efficiency and control. Yet since MOOCs limit the amount of contact between student and teacher, it will be difficult to engage the course on a deeper and more meaningful level.

We no longer have to go to the chains.

Download