Understanding Organisations Management - Essay Example

Understanding organizations Management Understanding organizations-Management PART A Mcdonaldizationis a concept introduced by George Ritzer. As a sociologist, Ritzer examined this phenomena ever present in society in his book The Mcdonaldization of Society (2007). The term Mcdonalds rises from the name of a fast food restaurant. Ritzer compares society today to a have adopted the characteristics of such a fast food chain. The concept lies behind the shift from a traditional and logical mode of thought. Rationality is viewed from a new vision as the conventional and scientific mode of thought is rejected. As a sociologist, Ritzer has drawn up an image of society which is different from that of his fellow counterparts. While sociologists like Weber viewed political systems like bureaucracy to explain the shift in society, Ritzer uses the example of a fast food place. He claims it to be far more representative of the contemporary paradigm into which society has shifted today. The concept is better described by the four terms employed by Ritzer himself. They are used to better understand and explain this concept. These four terms are vital to determine the reliability and efficiency of any organization. The first of this is efficiency. Ritzer emphasizes the importance of this term. It represents the optimal technique that can be employed to succeed in any task. However, efficiency is not just a technique used to bring optimum results. Ritzer prefers it to have a very specific meaning which in intoned with entire concept of Mcdonaldization. To Ritzer, efficiency is speed with which an individual can achieve results. This means the speed with which the individual is able to move from one point to another. This is evident in the service provided by Mcdonalds. It aims to satisfy its customer's hunger in the least amount of time possible. Thus, they work to remove hunger and achieve full satisfaction in a limited period of time. This idea of efficiency is ever dominant in the establishment that works to fulfill its customers need in the shortest period possible. In this way, the work of an organization is thought to be one that allows an individual to gain results in the shortest time instead. Another term employed by Mcdonaldization is calculability. This mode ensures that the individual uses data that can be quantified rather than ones than are subjective. In this mode, an organization has to pay attention to the numerical and statistics rather than tastes and behavior. In this formula, quantity is seen as another term for quality. This idea makes sense when compared to the work done at a fast food chain. In this organization, if food is provided at a fast rate, the quality ceases to matter. In other words, by providing a large quantity of food within a short span of time, the individual ensures that the consumer assumes it to be of the highest quality. This is because individuals are conditioned to compare how much quantity they receive to the money they paid for it. The organization works to ensure its consumers that they receive a large amount of goods for a small quantity that they have paid. In return, the consumer automatically assumes this to be the best quality available. This concept can also be employed for workers. According to Ritzer, the employee is judged by the degree of work they can produce in the workplace. This is contrary to the kind or quality of work they produce, which assumes secondary importance. The Mcdonaldization of Society also speaks of the predictability. This can be meant to explain the standardization of services that are present within society. The concept is further ensued in the idea of uniformity in the services that are given by an organization to its consumers. Working against the idea of Mcdonalds, Ritzer shows how the consumer at the fast food chain can expect the same service to be provided to them, no matter which outlet of this food enterprise they visit. Once again, this concept is not unique to the needs of the consumer alone. A worker can also be very standardized and predictable in the tasks they perform. Workers are supposed to perform tasks that are not only mechanical in their entire essence but also repetitive and routine. Thus, the idea of identical demands applies not to the consumer alone but also the organization that employs it. The last aspect of Mcdonaldization seeks to explain the degree of control that is employed in organizations. It seeks to understand the need of unvarying products and work that must be provided for the success of the organization. Thus, this effect can only be wrought by individual employees who work consistently without making mistakes. However, if this proves to be unhelpful than the organization can choose to replace these individuals with machines to perform successful and unflawed tasks. Mcdonaldization also understands the importance of machines and non-human technologies in the workplace. Thus, Mcdonaldization picks on four important concepts in the field of organizational structure and behavior: efficiency, calculability, predictability and control. This concept is best presented in the work by Morgan who explains the presentations of different kinds of organizations (Images of Organization). This chapter is best placed in Part II which seeks to understand the mechanization which has inhabited various organizational structures. This theory can also be employed in other chapters given in the book. It can be restructured into organization as an organism (Part II-3) because it seeks to understand the working of the organization just like the Mcdonaldization theory. It can also be included in the chapter on Cultures (Part II-5) which seeks to understand the cultures that are adopted by different organizations. Just like every organization seems to set up a specific image and workplace ethic, Mcdonalds which is the mentioned fast food chain is also working against a similar image and culture. Thus, the mechanization can also be adjusted into the chapter of cultures to explain the image of an organization. It can also be used in the chapter on interests, conflicts and power (Part II-6). This is because fast-food chains also establish a means of repetitive control over an institute. Thus, the chapter on mechanization and the use of Mcdonaldization to better understand the presentation of organizations can be fitted into various sections of the book. The strengths provided by the book are similar to those given by the Mcdonaldization process. It speaks of the work performed by machines and how this achieves two of the important goals provided by the Mcdonaldization process: efficiency and predictability. It also plays on the consumer market built by Mcdonalds to win over a specific audience. The Tayloristic element has also been examined. This not only draws up comparisons between the two theories but merges them together to appear as one. The numbers of limitations presented by Morgan are far different from the ones limiting the Mcdonaldization theory. This means that the idea of limited innovation in the structure has been ignored by Ritzer. Not only does he speak of the theory and its components but he fails to mention the lack of improvement that this mechanized form can bring. While Ritzer failed to mention the part played by political systems in his work, this has been mentioned in the book by Morgan. He plays on the importance of bureaucracy in creating a form of organization that is unfeeling and unyielding. Thus, Mcdonaldization is a process that seeks to explain the structure which is followed by individuals and consumers in an organization. It focuses on explaining this structure by comparing it to a fast food chain. Not only is this a different approach to the ones taken by fellow theorists but it also draws up similarities to a fast food chain that is prevalent and famous for consumers and employees today. PART B The book that would be suitable for the text presented in the work by Morgan is that of Kellner (Media Spectacle). While this book in no way draws references to the format and presentation of organizations, it in fact does discuss the concept of Mcdonaldization. While the entire book might not be useful, the specific chapter on Mcdonaldization certainly is. It assists in the reader's ability to better understand and recognize the format of this model. Not only does this chapter provide an easier and direct form of explanation for this system but it also speaks of a completely different genre. Thus, an individual seeking to improve their knowledge and workings on the Mcdonaldization theory can continue to do so from the works written in this book. The writer aims to show how Mcdonalds has created this image of itself within its followers. This is an image that has won it immense fame and credibility. The writer seeks to explain how Mcdonalds has a glorified image. This picture is splashed across various borders and regions, winning the organization a vast and diverse audience. The writer shows the impact the advertisements of Mcdonalds can prove to have on their unsuspecting audience. By associating this fast food chain with images of happiness and quantity, the audience is mesmerized into believing that Mcdonalds will provide them high-quality food at a great value. This is indeed an idea which is explored in the works of Ritzer himself. The writer then continues to talk of Mcdonald's burgeoning success along with the reasons and consequences behind it. Retracing the fast food chain through its origins and achievements today, the writer talks of the modern fast-paced world where this food is perfect for the live the current individual leads. This is coupled with the differences Mcdonalds has made in the structure of organizations: mass production and hiring of female labor. It then continues to discuss the various components adopted by this fast food chain which is similar to the work written by Ritzer himself. Thus, this work will be a valuable addition to the knowledge of the entire concept of mechanization. Not only will it increase the information the reader possess on this topic but it will also assist in creating a better understanding of the knowledge the reader already possesses. This chapter is also useful because of the references it makes to other books and quotes the necessary material required to explain Mcdonaldization. While the book by Kellner sought to better explain the work of Mcdonalds on the sphere of media, another book chooses to address a sociological perspective. In this book, Andersen and Taylor seek to explain the role Mcdonaldization has played in modern society today (2005). This book can also not be placed as a replacement to that by Morgan. It can only add and enunciate the information that has already been provided. It will pose to be a good reading as a chapter in itself rather than of the entire book. It seeks to explain the concept of Mcdonaldization from the sociological point of view. It is considered important for additional information because it presents a logical and specific argument. While Morgan speaks only of the concept produced by Ritzer in instances and examples, this idea is clearly represented by Sociology: Understanding a diverse society. Thus, while Morgan places the details of Ritzer throughout the section on mechanization, the work is specifically acknowledged in the other book. It is based solely on Ritzer's theory and gives additional facts and statistics which were missing from the work by Morgan. For instance, Anderson and Taylor present a chart which shows the degree to which Mcdonalds has spread across the United States. It includes the amount of land used and the sales made by the organization in it. This shows the components Ritzer speaks of in his theory: quantity and predictability. Also the advantages of this kind of food to the ordinary individual are provided. This shows that Mcdonalds is not just working on a profit-based structure but one that does indeed provide and support the needs of its consumers. Again, this book provides references from material written by other authors. This is important not only for creating a balanced view on the subject but for showing that the opinion is considered by a number of different writers. This book will be a helpful read to any individual who seeks to find condense but detailed understanding of the work by Ritzer. Thus, both books can be aptly used by an individual seeking to better their understanding of Mcdonaldization. Not only will this prove to be helpful but also enlightening. By touching on different spheres of society, rather than just the format played by organizations, these books can improve the definition of Mcdonaldization. It can also be noticed that both writers in the different books seek to compare Ritzer's theories to that of his fellow sociology counterparts. Not only do they compare his work to that of Weber but also mention the differences and theories resulting in them. Both books seek not only to present the Mcdonaldization view but to assist in an analysis of it. Though it cannot be denied that they both present perspectives which are very different from the ones sought by Morgan, their work is essential to draw a full picture of this form of organizational structure. They will show the role this concept plays on an entire society which in turn affects the organizational structures of the community. Bibliography Andersen M & Taylor H (2005), Sociology: Understanding a Diverse Society, Wadsworth Publishing, p 155 Kellner D (2003), Media Spectacle, Routledge, p 94 Morgan G (2006), Images of organization (updated edition), Sage, California. Ritzer G (2007), The Mcdonaldization of Society, Pine Forge Press. Read More