What Is Mcdonaldized Society

In today's ever changing and flexible society, people have a sense of solidity and affinity. One way we do so is through what sociologist George Ritzer calls Mcdonaldization. Mcdonaldization is the process by which the principles of efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control shape organization and decision making, in the United states and around the world. These principles, as Ritzer argued, “have been emulated by many organizations, ranging from medical care to wedding planning to education” (Witt,111). The success of Mcdonaldization, and the very well known restaurant Mcdonald's is due to the use of the components-- efficiency, calculability, predictability, control shape and decision making and irrationality of rationality.
The first component of mcdonaldization is efficiency. Efficiency is choosing of means to reach a specific end rapidly, with the least amount of cost or effort. Through efficiency, businesses have made it convenient for their consumers, giving them an effective and easy way to get things done. The difference between efficiency in a mcdonaldized society, is that efficiency is forced upon the consumer and not something that they choose. According to Ritzer, “Similarly, efficient workers can perform their tasks more rapidly and easily. Managers and owners gain because more work gets done, more customers are served, and greater profits are earned” (Ritzer, 57). Efficiency has it's advantages for both the consumer and the worker, the worker gets more work done, and with that work more consumers are happy. An example of efficiency, used by Ritzer, is a salad bar. With a salad bar you are given an empty plate, and a very wide variety of choices and create the salad yourself. This essentially is more efficient for the restaurant, but more work for the consumer. The use of the salad bar does not limit the consumer to what the chef wants to put on the salad, but what you want on your own salad. Another example is an ATM machine, with an ATM machine you are able to withdraw, deposit, and do all the things you can with a bank teller ultimately making more work for the consumer. Both the banking and salad bar, allow consumers to do things on their own time. They also reduce the level of human interaction and are forced to deal with computerized aspects in a mcdonaldized society. The second component of a mcdonaldized society is calculability.
Calculability is " ... an emphasis on the quantitative aspects of products sold (portion size, cost) and service offered (the time it takes to get the product)” (Ritzer, 9)." Through calculability, more is better and quantity is more important than quality. Ritzer emphasises that the “bigger the better”, the bigger the product is made out to be the better it seems to the consumer. For example, at Mcdonalds they are known for their Big Mac’s, with the addition of big the customer is more likely to get the product due to the “extra” amount. Another example given was simply how many student could be put into a classroom and what their grades look like, and not the quality of what they learned. Ritzer explains that everything in a society should be
qualified. The next component of a mcdonaldized society is predictability. Predictability is "...emphasizes such things as discipline, order, systemization, formalization, routine, consistency, and methodical operation” (Ritzer, 79). With predictability, people know what to expect at most times and places. People are more comfortable if they know what to expect or already know the outcome. Predictability in a mcdonaldized society, is consistency not only at restaurants, but also movies and other shops. In the book review by Hamid Yeganeh he states, “The same repetitive tasks not only increase efficiency, but also enable companies to consistently produce the same products each time, thus making the employees duties predictable” (Yeganeh, 2). In the case of Mcdonald's, the experience is the same for the customer no matter what time and what location they go too, but it also creates a routine for the employees at said Mcdonald's. Predictability is not only efficient, but it creates a sense of comfort for the customer instead of trying to navigate through an unfamiliar place. Calculability is not only present in Mcdonalds or other restaurants but it also influences tv shows and movies. Calculability is shown through the sequels of movies, because watchers are familiar with the plot and characters, making profits more predictable for the studio. As technology advances, we as humans essentially take a step back in the control we have.
According to Ritzer he states, “[people are] the great source of uncertainty, unpredictability and inefficiency in any rationalizing system…” (Ritzer, 101). What this means is, employers have better control over the rationalization process, through mechanization. For example, the job of a pilot has been completely mcdonaldized due to the fact that a computer runs the plane. Most places are now controlled by a system that has been put into place. In a mcdonaldized society, customers are also controlled by these technologies. The structural placings of the establishment also affect the customer to follow and act in an orderly way due to the norms of the restuarants. Although these technologies make things easier, they're also a step back for humans. They have a higher control, and as they become more advanced the need for workers declines. Essentially we are too become more dependent on not only technology, but the things mcdonaldization
creates.