McDonaldization of Society

Definition

The McDonaldization of Society is the process by which the principles of the fast-food industry, such as efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control through automation, have come to dominate more and more sectors of American society as well as the rest of the world. This concept illustrates how these principles affect both the organization of companies and almost every aspect of daily life.

Related terms

Bureaucracy:

A system of administration characterized by strict policies, procedures, and hierarchy intended to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in organizations.

Rationalization:

The process by which traditional methods of social organization, governed by customs and emotions, are replaced by efficiently administered rules and procedures.

Efficiency:

In organizational context, refers to achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense; often prioritized in McDonaldized systems