To What Extent Does the Mcdonaldization Model Move Beyond Weber's ‘Ideal Bureaucracy’ to Provide a Comprehensive Metaphor for Contemporary Society?

This assignment will look at the model of McDonaldization and its links to Max Weber’s theory of bureaucracy. The advantages and disadvantages of the model will be identified and examples will be given of how these will affect an organisation. Effects of McDonaldization on society will also be considered. The extent to which McDonaldization provides a comprehensive metaphor for contemporary society will be determined from the evidence presented.
The definition of McDonaldization 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 the rest of the world” (Ritzer, 2004, p. 1). There are four main characteristics of McDonaldization which will be explained in relation to McDonalds. These characteristics are efficiency, calculability, predictability and control. Efficiency within McDonalds is demonstrated by the automated soft drink filling machines, the drive through where the customer leaves before they eat their meals and there is a selection of food is always ready for consumption. These examples help reduce the time it takes for a customer to arrive and complete their purchase which allows McDonalds to cater for a higher demand in a set period of time. Efficiency is also optimized by “the use of the customer as labour” (Nancarrow et al, 2005, p. 298) in ways such as them carrying their own food to tables and putting their own waste into the bin. Calculability relates to how the organisation measures its performance and sets its targets. With regards to McDonalds this calculability would come from “the quantitative aspects of products sold” (Ritzer, 2004, p. 13). These aspects could include the portion size of a meal, the time it takes to cook a burger or how long it takes for a customer to order and receive their meal. This calculability helps management in planning day to day issues such as how many staff are needed to run the business. Predictability comes from the

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