Culture and Values Case Study
SOCS185 Culture and Society
Week 2 Discussion
Culture and Values Case Study
The golden arches of McDonald’s are one of the most recognizable corporate symbols in the entire world. Most Americans eat at McDonald’s at least occasionally, and for many a visit to McDonald’s for breakfast or lunch is part of their regular routine. What attracts people to McDonald’s is not the high quality of the food, but rather the consistency and predictability of the customer experience. A Big Mac at one McDonald’s is the same as a Big Mac from any other McDonald’s. The menu, the layout of the seating area, and even the restrooms look very similar regardless of the city the McDonald’s is located in.
While it may be comforting to visit McDonald’s occasionally, most people would probably get bored if they had to eat the same food at the same place every day. Unfortunately, according to many observers, American society itself has become increasingly “McDonaldized.” In other words, many aspects of contemporary society share important qualities with McDonald’s and similar fast-food franchises:
Efficiency (the meal is made very quickly)
Predictability (the food tastes the same each time)
Standardization (each franchise operates the same way)
Control (corporate leaders dictate the rules)
Of course, McDonaldization is not limited to the food industry. It can be seen in the manufacture and design of many products and services. In your opening post, discuss one example of McDonaldization outside the food industry. Some possibilities might include the following:
Automobiles
Smartphones
Architecture (homes, office buildings, sports stadiums)
Web sites
Popular movies, music, books, or other forms of entertainment
As you consider your response, think about how your example meets the criteria of efficiency, predictability, standardization, and control. Overall, do the benefits of McDonaldization outweigh the drawbacks?
Collepals.com Plagiarism Free Papers
Are you looking for custom essay writing service or even dissertation writing services? Just request for our write my paper service, and we'll match you with the best essay writer in your subject! With an exceptional team of professional academic experts in a wide range of subjects, we can guarantee you an unrivaled quality of custom-written papers.
Get ZERO PLAGIARISM, HUMAN WRITTEN ESSAYS
Why Hire Collepals.com writers to do your paper?
Quality- We are experienced and have access to ample research materials.
We write plagiarism Free Content
Confidential- We never share or sell your personal information to third parties.
Support-Chat with us today! We are always waiting to answer all your questions.
