McDonalds: A Globalization Poster Child By: Tanisha Brewer-Lott

What is Globalization? Business/Economic Terms – it can be defined as the process enabling financial and investment markets to operate internationally, largely as a result of deregulation and improved communications Culture – A country’s cultural standard becoming global and influencing countries around the world

Countries Culture made of things such as: The language Clothes Acceptable society norms Food

McDonalds initially opened in Los Angeles in 1954 Ray Kroc, a salesman, saw opportunity to expand idea – signed contract to expand company model Beginning of McDonalds as we know it One of the largest restaurant chains in the world – over 32,000 today Branched out to many countries – one of the early ones being Japan

Japanese Expansion - Challenges First one opened in 1971 – immediate success Changed/added menu items Teriyaki Burgers Rice Burgers Green Tea Ice Cream Oolong Tea Lack of “sense of community” while eating McDonalds food seen as a snack, not as a meal

Negatives to Globalization Global uniformity – “McDonaldization” Disruption of traditional culture Change in diets

Many aspects of the American/Westernized culture going global Positives and Negatives Inevitable due to growing globalization