The golden arches of McDonald's are one of the most recognizablecorporate symbols in the entire world. Most Americans eat atMcDonald's at least occasionally, and for many a visit toMcDonald's for breakfast or lunch is part of their regular routine.What attracts people to McDonald's is not the high quality of thefood, but rather the consistency and predictability of the customerexperience. A Big Mac at one McDonald's is the same as a Big Macfrom any other McDonald's. The menu, the layout of the seatingarea, and even the restrooms look very similar regardless of thecity 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 samefood at the same place every day. Unfortunately, according to manyobservers, American society itself has become increasingly"McDonaldized." In other words, many aspects of contemporarysociety share important qualities with McDonald's and similarfast-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 andservices. In your opening post, discuss one example ofMcDonaldization outside the food industry. Some possibilities mightinclude the following:

• Automobiles
• Smartphones
• Architecture (homes, office buildings, sports stadiums)
• Web sites
• Popular movies, music, books, or other forms ofentertainment

As you consider your response, think about how your examplemeets the criteria of efficiency, predictability, standardization,and control. Overall, do the benefits of McDonaldization outweighthe drawbacks?