Broader social implication of the strategies of business corporations

Business in a globalised era affects lives beyond business and commerce. Minds, attitude, preferences, behaviour, culture, social activities, all are reshaped under the influence of globalisation. George Ritzer talks of certain implicit but sweeping consequences of corporate strategies, which he designated as McDonaldisation. He argued that the established business corporations, whether transnational corporations (TNCs), or locally dominant players, are slowly but shockingly transforming the way people is leading their lives across the globe through their business strategies, methods of operation and marketing techniques. This paper critically examines the McDonaldisation thesis. The four pillars of McDonaldisation are efficiency, calculability, predictability and control. The paper examines the implications of these four concepts as explained by Ritzer and to what extent they are valid, at least in the Indian context. Our results based on a small empirical study do not validate the McDonaldisation thesis in Indian context. The very factors that Ritzer argues are the irrational elements of the system are attracting the customers to the food outlets.