Management Techniques Used in Mcdonalds Stores

Management Techniques apply in McDonalds Date 17/12/2010 Contents Pg 1 gloss page Pg 2 Contents Pg 3 Executive Summary Pg 4 1. 0 Terms of Reference 2. 0 Procedure 2. 1 firsthand Research 2. 2 junior-grade Research 3. 0 Findings 3. 1 Principles of scientific wariness Pg 5 3. 2 Principles of Taylorisms 3. 3 McDonaldization 3. 4 Individual probe Pg 6 3. 5 Motivation 4. 0 Conclusion Pg 7 5. 0 Recommendations 6. 0 Reference List 7. 0 Bibliography Executive Summary This root card was gived to look at the circumspection and motivation methods hat argon employ in McDonalds unwavering nutrient restaurants, and was requested by the cured Executive of McDonalds. The main recollectings were that there be influences of the theories of F. W. Taylor and George Ritzer and was concluded that upon observation of the activities in McDonalds, there argon evident phthisiss of scientific management used in McDonalds restaurants, and that this does discombobulate a knock-on effect on the motivation of stave there. The recommendations of this identify be that the managers affect to engage the provide and guess to revamp the processes that they bring forth in place, and give them a more direct motivation as to the rewards that they receive. 1. 0 Terms of Reference This report is has been requested by the senior(a) Executive of McDonalds in September 2010, in response to a hold made by Wilson (2010). Wilson suggests that there atomic number 18 close links amid the scientific management teachings and the strict r a expressive styleines and procedures found in McDonalds fast diet restaurants. This report leave alone look into scientific management principles and to take to if they do actually have an effect on the management principles that atomic number 18 used McDonalds fast food restaurants and will briefly look at the motivation methods of McDonalds employees, and will include observations of these methods.The basic problems found in the obse rvation of staff, was that the observation was limited, and only observed the activities of the front-line employees, serving the customer, and was not satisfactory to extend this to the beginning of the process to where the food is made on the premises. This report has been compiled by an independent enquiryer, who will consider through observation and research whether Wilsons suggestion does support the daily r protrudeines a customer would find when visiting such fast-food restaurants. 2. Procedure The following procedures were undertaken in social club to lose it the case study organisation. 2. 1 Primary Research The primary research undertaken was to observe the staff of various McDonalds restaurants, these were observed from September 2010 to December 2010 to try and obtain a more varied view of the procedures staff at McDonalds use. This is found under section 3. 4 Individual Investigation. 2. 2 Secondary Research The secondary research undertaken was through websites , books and online articles.This research was used for the use of theorists used in the Findings section of the report. 3. 0 Findings 3. 1 Scientific management is a theory that was initially developed by Fredrick Winslow Taylor and this theory was published in 1911. In his matter, The Principles of Scientific Management, Taylor addresses the importance of the coarser promontory of increasing our national efficiency (Taylor, 1911). His theory sets out to develop that the ruff management is a true science, resting upon clearly defined laws, rules and principles as a foundation (Taylor, 1911).Taylor believed that wrenchmen would do as little work as possible, and would produce one-third to one-half of their ability, and believed that this was universal, yet he wanted to counter this and ontogenesis the productivity of histrions. Taylor suggests through his own research that many excogitates, including skilled professions toilette be broken blast into smaller tasks, mean ing the less need for skilled craftsmen to complete jobs, and make their own decisions. He conducted this research in the steel industry with Time Studies he observed workers sequence of motions to determine the high hat way for jobs to be performed.The drawbacks of this method, although it does increase productivity, ar that it de-humanises the job role, and doesnt allow for any thought of the worker to be involved. 3. 2 The four main principles of Taylor, also contendn as Taylorisms, atomic number 18 1. Replace rule of thumb work methods with methods based on a scientific study of the tasks. 2. To scientifically select, train and develop each worker rather than leaving the workers to train themselves. 3. To co-operate with workers to ensure that the scientific developed methods ar being followed. . To divide work nearly equally between management and workers, so managers apply the scientific management principles to planning and the work, and the worker to actually perform th e tasks. (www. netmba. com) These principles were adopted mainly in factories and industrial settings, including Henry get everywheres car production factories. 3. 3 McDonaldization is a term that was created by George Ritzer based on the findings of Max Webers theories of bureaucracy, in his publication The McDonaldization of Society (1995).George Ritzer explains that the fast food restaurant is an extreme example of systematisation process, where the main focus is that of efficiency and predictability. Ritzers four main principles of McDonaldization ar 1. Efficiency The fastest method of completing a task. 2. Calculability In cost of McDonalds customers, this means to serve the customers a large amount of food in a in brief period of time, in terms of McDonalds staff, it is the quantity of work they do and not the quality in that they do it. 3.Predictability convey whatever McDonalds restaurant a customer will go to, they would know what to expect, this applies to the p roduct and the service that they receive. 4. Control This is the control over the employees, everything is standardized and wherever possible, human interaction is replaced by technology. 3. 4 Individual Investigation- On conducting an investigation into what a customer would run into upon visiting McDonalds restaurants, it was found that the experience does support the views of Ritzer, and Taylors scientific management principles can be applied.On being served, a customer is asked the same routine question, and the customers answer will be, again, another script-written question, i. e. What drink would you like with that, would you like to have a large meal? The employee that is serving will then either collect the order that the customer has placed, or there will be another piece of staff there to carry out that particular task, so that the aroundbody stationed at the till can go on to serve the neighboring customer, whichever may be more efficient, with tasks being broken down.This experience only if can cover one-third of the four principles used by Ritzer, sooner clearly efficiency, fastest method of completing the task, calculability, serving customers with large amounts of food in a short time and also the quantity of work that they do. The third principle of Ritzer is supported by visiting a hardly a(prenominal) various McDonalds restaurants, the customer will know what to expect, as stated foregoing with the script-written questions upon ordering food, to knowing the McDonalds menu and what you will get.The fourth principle of Ritzers, control, from going to McDonalds has been perceived from this observation that the managers will control the staff, ensuring that tasks are carried out correctly, as when observing the activity behind the counter, there is always a manager present, constantly going back and fourth between points, and checking over employees shoulders. 3. 5 Motivation To look at the benefits that may motivate a McDonalds empl oyee, it has been researched on what promote the vacancies that are available in McDonalds. From accessing the McDonalds website www. mcdonalds. co. k, the company advertises that the vacancies are not just short-term jobs, plainly the opportunity nominates great study and development schemes from apprenticeships to foundation degrees, yet, they do not black market away from the actual realization of the job. A very brief sectionalisation of a crew-members role is stated as, customer service expected to interpret customers with a quick and accurate service. The website also promotes the rewards and benefits of being a McDonalds employee, these are 28 days paid holidays, free private healthcare (after three years service), stakeholder pension scheme, an employee is able to exchange ? 10 directly from their net profit to childcare vouchers, saving on National Insurance and Tax, and also benevolent to possibly single parents, and also discount cards for large retailers, inclu ding HMV and tag & Spensers. However, although all these rewards and benefits may see appealing, there is also a short telecasting clip on the website, titled Think Again. This is a short video, where a McDonalds employee has approached people off the street to ask their views on people who work in McDonalds.Some answers given are that McDonalds employees are uneducated, people filling in between real jobs and that a job at McDonalds is a last resort, however, the employee who was conducting the short interviews was a university student, currently canvas law, when this was told to the people who she was talking with, mostly all of them looked surprised, and afraid that they had offended her, but it further backed her point, of think again, not all McDonalds staff are what they appear to be, and the majority of them are studying in university for degrees.This video is a realistic view of what McDonalds staff are considered to be, and McDonalds have tried to turn this in their favo ur, yet, it will be off-putting for some to apply for these jobs, and from visiting McDonalds restaurants, the staff do not bet entirely enthusiastic and motivated, and seem to find it a struggle to offer service with a smile. 4. 0 Conclusion In conclusion, Wilsons suggestion is a true statement of the management techniques and working procedures that are used in McDonalds.From researching the scientific management principles, and observing the activity in McDonalds, it can be seen that these principles do apply the tasks are broken down into small tasks, to enable efficiency. All staff are trained on the job role that they are doing, and are trained to the method that fits best with the structure of the restaurant and environment that they will be working in, and managers are constantly overseeing what the employees are doing.The findings have also shown that Ritzers views of McDonaldization are again, kinda true, and again from observation of staff working at McDonalds, have fit ted with the principles that Ritzer film McDonalds function on. 5. 0 Recommendations The recommendations that are found from the findings of this report are that there needs to be a more direct motivation for the staff at McDonalds. As said under the findings, the staff seem to lack an enthusiasm for the job that they are doing, even though the training and development opportunities and the rewards available are quite impressive.However, this lack of awareness may be to the mundane and repetitive processes that the organisation have in place, and if so, McDonalds managers need to look at this again. The processes that are in place do offer efficiency, which is essential for a fast-food restaurant, but they need to get their staff more engaged and offer more variety in the way that these processes are carried out, and while doing this, possibly include the staff that are carrying out these processes to share their input into what they line up can be done etter, this will then have a boost factor to the way that they feel they are valued in the organisation. 6. 0 Reference list * importance of the larger question of increasing our national efficiency (Taylor, 1911, Introduction, The Principles of Scientific Management)* * Prove that the best management is a true science, resting upon clearly defined laws, rules and principles as a foundation (Taylor, 1911, The Principles of Scientific Management, Pge 3)* *both accessed from forgottenbooks. org 7. 0 Bibliography * www. mcdonalds. co. uk (9/12/2010) * www. netmba. com (8-11/12/2010)