In: Operations Management
In class and in the videos, I described how bureaucracy is used to promote stability in organizations such as the Roman Catholic Church and the U.S. Marines. Explain the elements of bureaucracy that also help McDonalds make the Big Mac and the Quarter Pounder with Cheese taste and look the same all over the U.S.
Big Mac and Quarter Pounder products
are two of the most popular products offered by McDonald and It is
important for the fast food chain to make it uniform for each part
of the USA. To do this, bureaucracy has an important role to play
to help McDonald serve Big Mac and Quarter Pounder products. In
this regard, the first element of the bureaucracy the technically
competent and specialized labor force that know how best to do
their job. It brings uniformity and skills at work that prevent
deviation when preparing the product. As a result, a same taste,
ingredients and feeling can be achieved with big Mac and quarter
pounder. The second element of bureaucracy that helps is the stable
and clear hierarchical structure that never allows ambiguity. It
makes clear to all the branches to stick with the proven method of
preparing these products and follow the standards. There should be
no scope of variation in work while preparing the products. So, a
big Mac and quarter pounders are produced with uniformity for
everyone in the different parts of the USA. The third element of
bureaucracy is the specific bill of materials and process steps
with whom workers have to stick and prepare the product. It makes
the same product everywhere in the USA unless the method or its
ingredient changes. Even the type of cheese to be used and
produced, also does not change. The fourth element of bureaucracy
is formal mode of communication that shows the efficient planning
at work. It helps in purchase of materials, inventory management
and in supply chain. It brings timely delivery of goods and
products are served with the same life as it is done for a long
time. It makes the taste to be the same.
So, the bureaucracy has a key role to play in making these products
to be same across the USA.