George Ritzer means that McDonaldization is the process by which the principles of the fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society as well as the rest of the world. One example is the replacement of hand drafting by architects with computer-aided design (CAD) software, which has increased efficiency but reduced skill and increased control over the design process. McDonaldization is a globalizing force because transnational corporations like McDonald's are standardizing processes around the world using technologies to control labor and increase efficiency. Advertising is also a globalizing agent as brands use various media like social media, television, and the internet to market their products internationally and influence cultures globally.
George Ritzer means that McDonaldization is the process by which the principles of the fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society as well as the rest of the world. One example is the replacement of hand drafting by architects with computer-aided design (CAD) software, which has increased efficiency but reduced skill and increased control over the design process. McDonaldization is a globalizing force because transnational corporations like McDonald's are standardizing processes around the world using technologies to control labor and increase efficiency. Advertising is also a globalizing agent as brands use various media like social media, television, and the internet to market their products internationally and influence cultures globally.
George Ritzer means that McDonaldization is the process by which the principles of the fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society as well as the rest of the world. One example is the replacement of hand drafting by architects with computer-aided design (CAD) software, which has increased efficiency but reduced skill and increased control over the design process. McDonaldization is a globalizing force because transnational corporations like McDonald's are standardizing processes around the world using technologies to control labor and increase efficiency. Advertising is also a globalizing agent as brands use various media like social media, television, and the internet to market their products internationally and influence cultures globally.
1. What does George Ritzer mean by "McDonaldization of the Contemporary Society"?
Give at least one example of a McDonaldized process to expound your answer.
What does George Ritzer mean by “Mcdonaldization of the Contemporary Society”
George Ritzer mean by Mcdonaldization is one of the results of the elements formal rationality from efficiency, predictability, quantifiability and control. Ritzer implied on Mcdonaldization of the contemporary society is geared towards the increased control particularly replacing people with nonhuman technologies. The prevalent problem from achieving a formal rationalization is the human uncertainty and unpredictability, thus with nonhuman technology it is ample for less error, efficiency and gain control compare to humans. This process is evident in our course in Architecture and in the professional field, Students and architects before used to draft manually by hand with the aid of tools such as ruler and triangle. However, precision using hands pertaining to measurements, lines, and modeling isn’t accurate enough, possible errors might arise from miscalculation, inaccurate perceive modelling of structure or incorrect measurements. As technological innovation progress, the development of software such as CAD (Computer Aided Design) and Sketch Up (3d Modelling), replaced the traditional way of drafting or designing both for students and architects. This nonhuman technology has eliminated some of the human uncertainty from the job because it provided tools for more accurate data, precision, curvilinear geometric models that solves the common human errors and could never be recreated by hands. From the word Aided Design, there is a vast decline in the amount of skill required on the job. I am afraid that one day designs would be easily generated by computer machines because I’ve seen design layouts for website, posters, powerpoint design presentation easily generated by computers.
2. In what sense is "McDonaldization" a globalizing force?
Mcdonalization is a globalizing force because of the nature of globalization that involves
technology, information and market and people. As mentioned in the article by George Ritzer, transnational companies like the Mcdonalds fast food restaurant are gradually changing its service with nonhuman technologies therefore controlling people served by the system. Other transnational companies are incorporating Mcdonalization into their system like Waze using global satellite to locate wayfinding and easy access routes. The process of Mcdonalization requires the integration of Globalization as a primary component because it is supplemented by technological innovation, information and market.
3. In what sense is advertisement a globalizing agent?
Advertisement is a globalizing agent because of how these brands such as Nike, Levis, and Mcdonalds became international brands by incorporating transnational marketing through advertisements in different forms. For example, through social media platforms and the internet, brands can now transcend to national borders as it will reach more users globally, commercial advertisements in TV whom have access on cable and satellite tv. How advertisement works influence the lifestyle, culture and preferences of people, switching from local to international product. In conclusion, advertisement is a globalizing agent mainly because it is everywhere, embedded in our daily activities.