Deck 4: Developments in the Rational Organization

Question 1

The four elements of Ritzer's (2019) McDonaldization of Society are efficiency, calculability, _____ and control

Answer 1

predictability
Explanation: Predictability describes the ways in which the menu, the work process, the setting and even the behaviour of workers are standardised globally across McDonald's restaurants.

Question 2

Which of the following best describes what Ritzer (2019) means by the 'McDonaldization of Society'?

A) Every organization in the world is like McDonalds
B) McDonalds has been proven to be the most efficient way to organize a contemporary organization.
C) The rational techniques used by McDonalds are an exemplar of techniques used by many other organizations worldwide.
D) The McDonalds brand is one of the most recognized worldwide

Answer 2

C
Explanation: The McDonaldization of Society suggests that the techniques of rationalization used in McDonalds, using efficiency, predictability, calculability, and control, are a prime of example of contemporary rationalization, and can be found in operation to different degrees in many contemporary organizations such as banks, supermarkets, and hotels.

Question 3

Match the following principles of McDonaldization to their description.
-Standardisation of products, work environments and processes

A) Predictability
B) Control
C) Efficiency
D) Calculability

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Match the following principles of McDonaldization to their description.
-Making worker behaviour less variable by using technology

A) Predictability
B) Control
C) Efficiency
D) Calculability

Question 5

Match the following principles of McDonaldization to their description.
-Making the work process as streamlined as possible

A) Predictability
B) Control
C) Efficiency
D) Calculability

Question 6

Match the following principles of McDonaldization to their description.
-Measurement and quantification of all aspects of the work process

A) Predictability
B) Control
C) Efficiency
D) Calculability

Question 7

Fast-food restaurants use assembly lines as part of their hyper-efficient work process.

Question 8

In which of the following ways do barcodes help supermarkets to act as rationalized organizations? Please select all that apply.

A) They ensure a standard format for stacking shelves across a whole supermarket chain.
B) Their information can be scanned, making the checkout procedure more efficient.
C) They allow packaging to be thinner and thus makes transportation more efficient.
D) They link to an entry on a computer database, making pricing changes and inventory control more efficient.

Question 9

Match the following contemporary examples of rationalization to their most appropriate description.
-Comparing costs against their perceived value, found in companies which offer 'no frills' basic offerings.

A) Value engineering
B) Flat-pack rationalization
C) Panopticism
D) McDonaldization

Question 10

Match the following contemporary examples of rationalization to their most appropriate description.
-Saving transport and storage cost through marginal gains made on decreasing packaging dimensions.

A) Value engineering
B) Flat-pack rationalization
C) Panopticism
D) McDonaldization

Question 11

Match the following contemporary examples of rationalization to their most appropriate description.
-Using technology to exert monitoring and surveillance over workers, examples found in call centres and warehouses.

A) Value engineering
B) Flat-pack rationalization
C) Panopticism
D) McDonaldization

Question 12

Match the following contemporary examples of rationalization to their most appropriate description.
-An intensified use of traditional techniques of rationalization in contemporary organizations.

A) Value engineering
B) Flat-pack rationalization
C) Panopticism
D) McDonaldization

Question 13

Barcodes can be used to control workers as well as increase efficiency.

Question 14

The design of some organizations to provide a basic low-cost offering with people paying extra for additional items and services is sometimes describe as a no- _____ model.

Question 15

Michel Foucault designed the Panopticon

Question 16

Which of the following describe how prisoners were controlled in the original Panopticon design? Please select all that apply.

A) The design and structure of the building meant that a small number of guards could exert surveillance from a central watchtower.
B) Each prisoner was controlled directly by one guard.
C) Prisoners internalised control by knowing they could be observed by guards at any time.
D) Everything the prisoners did was made visible.

Question 17

Which of the following are examples of panoptic surveillance which takes place in call centres? Please select all that apply.

A) Data on call times can be used to compare the relative performance of different operators.
B) The physical layout allows easy observation of individual operators.
C) Barcodes track the positions of individual workers.
D) Supervisors can listen to calls as they happen.

Question 18

Bain and Taylor argued that call centres are like a perfect Panopticon.

Question 19

Foucault's theories of Panoptic control and surveillance are based on the architectural design of a _______.

Question 20

Match each of the industrial revolutions to their key features.
-Mechanization of production

A) First Industrial Revolution
B) Second Industrial Revolution
C) Third Industrial Revolution
D) Fourth Industrial Revolution

Question 21

Match each of the industrial revolutions to their key features.
-Division of labour (Taylorism), assembly line, mass production (Fordism)

A) First Industrial Revolution
B) Second Industrial Revolution
C) Third Industrial Revolution
D) Fourth Industrial Revolution

Question 22

Match each of the industrial revolutions to their key features.
-Automation, flexible mass-production (neo-Fordism)

A) First Industrial Revolution
B) Second Industrial Revolution
C) Third Industrial Revolution
D) Fourth Industrial Revolution

Question 23

Match each of the industrial revolutions to their key features.
-Artificial intelligence, gig economy

A) First Industrial Revolution
B) Second Industrial Revolution
C) Third Industrial Revolution
D) Fourth Industrial Revolution

Question 24

Systems which bring together physical, digital, and biological aspects of life are known as _____-physical systems

Question 25

Match each of these features of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to their description.
-A mass of information stored and generated by organizations.

A) Big data
B) Algorithms
C) Quantified self
D) Flexibility

Question 26

Match each of these features of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to their description.
-Computer routines which manipulate data to make decisions and manage people.

A) Big data
B) Algorithms
C) Quantified self
D) Flexibility

Question 27

Match each of these features of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to their description.
-Data which is held about individuals and their work in order to monitor workers and evaluate their performance.

A) Big data
B) Algorithms
C) Quantified self
D) Flexibility

Question 28

Match each of these features of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to their description.
-Changeability which applies to both production methods and working practices.

A) Big data
B) Algorithms
C) Quantified self
D) Flexibility

Question 29

Automation of the production process began during the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Question 30

Jobs which require creativity are amongst those least likely to be automated.

Question 31

Which of the following describes work where people are technically self-employed, but in practice perform individual tasks that are controlled by one organization?

A) Gig economy
B) Concert economy
C) Free-market economy
D) Fourth industrial revolution

Question 32

Gig economy companies tend to own the products that they sell

Question 33

Which of the following is NOT an example of gig economy work

A) Driving and delivery services where workers are instructed by an app in response to customer orders.
B) Microtasking and click-work, where workers perform simple tasks on-line.
C) Online marketplaces where freelancers apply for tasks in skilled professional and creative work
D) Factory workers making cars on an assembly line

Question 34

The amount of risk faced by gig economy workers, alongside uncertain working hours, leads to gig economy work being described as ______ work.

Question 35

Which of the following reflects the working relationship in the gig economy? Please select all that apply.

A) Companies provide tools for the job, such as bicycles and cars.
B) Workers bear the risks associated with illness or equipment malfunction.
C) Workers have control over all aspects of their work.
D) Workers are unsure what their wage income will be.

Question 36

Workers in the gig economy are unable to resist against their working conditions.