The Basics of McDonaldization
The author of The McDonaldization of Society, he developed the theory that modern societies are increasingly modeled after fast-food chains.
Who is George Ritzer?
Henry Ford’s use of the assembly line in car manufacturing is an early example of this McDonaldization principle.
What is efficiency?
This country has more McDonald's locations than any other, making it the most McDonaldized nation in the world.
What is the United States?
These are the four key principles of McDonaldization
What are efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control?
McDonaldization is often compared to this economic system, in which businesses prioritize profit, standardization, and mass production.
What is capitalism?
This term describes how McDonald’s adapts its menu to different countries by offering items like the McPaneer in India and the McSpaghetti in the Philippines.
What is glocalization?
McDonaldization is based on this sociologist’s theory of rationalization and bureaucracy.
Who is Max Weber?
Many universities have adopted standardized curricula, online courses, and large lecture halls, demonstrating McDonaldization in this field.
What is higher education?
This term refers to workers feeling powerless, disconnected, and undervalued due to repetitive, dehumanized jobs in fast-food chains and call centers. (Think Marx)
What is alienation?
This term refers to the way workers and customers become dehumanized in highly rationalized systems.
What is the "irrationality of rationality"?
Named after the American engineer Frederick Winslow Taylor, this method of industrial management was designed to maximize efficiency.
What is Taylorism?
Instead of McDonaldization, Japan’s business model often follows this philosophy of continuous improvement and flexibility, which contrasts with rigid standardization.
What is Kaizen?
This term refers to how consumers take on unpaid labor, such as scanning their own groceries or checking into a hotel via an app.
What is prosumption?
This 1920s efficiency expert was famous for filming factory workers to analyze and optimize their movements, much like McDonald’s does today. (First name like a hot dog)
Who is Frank Gilbreth?
A backlash against McDonaldization, this global movement promotes local traditions, sustainable practices, and high-quality craftsmanship over mass production.
What is the Slow Movement?