Devry SOCS185 Week 2 Discussion Latest 2022 March

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?