Explain and discuss how the new type of organizational style (Ritzer, The McDonaldization of Society) that combines principles of bureaucratization and scientific management is an important influence on social service delivery. Elaborate on Ritzer's key traits as they apply to social service delivery. Cite several examples from the case study of the Beacon Center that relate to this organizational style.
What will be an ideal response?
The four traits are efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control. Efficiency is making the most of one's time, money, and other resources. Calculability has an emphasis of quantity rather than quality of products and services. Predictability means that the product will be consistent from place to place and time to time. Control includes maximizing the use of nonhuman technology and workers doing things exactly as they are trained to do. This style is influencing many organizations outside the business world, including social services, which are focusing on getting people to specialize in particular tasks and skill sets. In the case study about Beacon Center, after the founder's retirement, the new director set about changing the culture in a McDonaldized sort of way, focusing on the control aspect most of all. She instituted more stringent rules about absences and sick time, a stricter chain of command, and left staff out of major decisions, preferring to rule unilaterally. They felt alienated from their work and the power and reputation of Beacon Center suffered as a result.
Cognitive Domain: Analysis
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