While examining McDonaldization, we are going to look at how the fast-food business
model has made its way into other institutions of society. Before we look at these
examples, I want to start by defining McDonaldization, so we have a good foundation on
this topic before moving forward. This term is based off the fast-food company
McDonalds and the business model that has made them successful. The fundamental
ideas behind McDonaldization are focused around four principles: efficiency,
predictability, calculability, and control. The McDonalds fast-food restaurant clearly
practices these principles on a daily basis. McDonalds is able to quickly and efficiently
make food, the quality is predictable, we are concerned with getting more foods items,
rather than higher quality ingredients, and the system is controlled with in and out drive
thru lines, security cameras and more. Now that we have some background on where
the term originated from, I want to look at another institution that has been
McDonaldized. We are going to discuss McDonaldization in movie theaters.
The first principle of McDonaldization we are going to look at is efficiency. Movie
theaters are efficient for several reasons. First, it is easy to book tickets to the movie you
want to see. Most movie theaters have an app or website that allows you to purchase
your tickets online. This cuts back on the number of staff they need, and the paper that
is need to print tickets. If you do not want to use their online ticket service, it usually
does not take too long to get a ticket in person. There are even movie ticket machines
you can use that let you purchase a ticket without talking to an employee. Second,
finding your movie inside the theater is also very efficient because there are colored
signs that point you in the direction of your movie. Third, the layout of the building and
the theater are designed to maximize capacity and serve as many people as possible.
Very little space is wasted, and the layout makes it easy to access the snack area,
restrooms, and exit when you are finished. To conclude this section, movie theaters are
efficient because they have made the ticket buying process simple for both the customer
and employees, and the layout of the building makes it easy to get to where you are
needing to go. Helpful signs, lite up carpet, labeled seats, and clearly marked hallways all
add to making the movie theater and efficient environment to conduct business in.
The second principle of McDonaldization we are going to examine is predictability.
When I go to the movies, there is a consistent process or routine that is followed each
time with little variation. I purchase my ticket online, walk inside the building, have my
ticket scanned, buy some popcorn, walk down the hall to the theater, find a seat, watch
the movie, then leave thru the exit door. According to one study focused on habits and
habitual routine activities, humans like consistency (or developing a habitual way of
doing something) due to the efficiency that can be yielded from doing the same set of
steps repeatedly (Karen, Ersche, Tsen-Vei, Laetitia, Ward, Robbins). I found this to be
very interesting because efficiency is the first McDonaldization principle. In addition to
this, I think the predictability of going to see a movie makes the whole process more
relaxing. I do not usually have to worry about any surprises in the ticket purchasing and
snack buying process.
model has made its way into other institutions of society. Before we look at these
examples, I want to start by defining McDonaldization, so we have a good foundation on
this topic before moving forward. This term is based off the fast-food company
McDonalds and the business model that has made them successful. The fundamental
ideas behind McDonaldization are focused around four principles: efficiency,
predictability, calculability, and control. The McDonalds fast-food restaurant clearly
practices these principles on a daily basis. McDonalds is able to quickly and efficiently
make food, the quality is predictable, we are concerned with getting more foods items,
rather than higher quality ingredients, and the system is controlled with in and out drive
thru lines, security cameras and more. Now that we have some background on where
the term originated from, I want to look at another institution that has been
McDonaldized. We are going to discuss McDonaldization in movie theaters.
The first principle of McDonaldization we are going to look at is efficiency. Movie
theaters are efficient for several reasons. First, it is easy to book tickets to the movie you
want to see. Most movie theaters have an app or website that allows you to purchase
your tickets online. This cuts back on the number of staff they need, and the paper that
is need to print tickets. If you do not want to use their online ticket service, it usually
does not take too long to get a ticket in person. There are even movie ticket machines
you can use that let you purchase a ticket without talking to an employee. Second,
finding your movie inside the theater is also very efficient because there are colored
signs that point you in the direction of your movie. Third, the layout of the building and
the theater are designed to maximize capacity and serve as many people as possible.
Very little space is wasted, and the layout makes it easy to access the snack area,
restrooms, and exit when you are finished. To conclude this section, movie theaters are
efficient because they have made the ticket buying process simple for both the customer
and employees, and the layout of the building makes it easy to get to where you are
needing to go. Helpful signs, lite up carpet, labeled seats, and clearly marked hallways all
add to making the movie theater and efficient environment to conduct business in.
The second principle of McDonaldization we are going to examine is predictability.
When I go to the movies, there is a consistent process or routine that is followed each
time with little variation. I purchase my ticket online, walk inside the building, have my
ticket scanned, buy some popcorn, walk down the hall to the theater, find a seat, watch
the movie, then leave thru the exit door. According to one study focused on habits and
habitual routine activities, humans like consistency (or developing a habitual way of
doing something) due to the efficiency that can be yielded from doing the same set of
steps repeatedly (Karen, Ersche, Tsen-Vei, Laetitia, Ward, Robbins). I found this to be
very interesting because efficiency is the first McDonaldization principle. In addition to
this, I think the predictability of going to see a movie makes the whole process more
relaxing. I do not usually have to worry about any surprises in the ticket purchasing and
snack buying process.
