From a very humble beginning in 1940 McDonald’s has come a long way. It has a presence in 119 countries across the globe through more than 36,538 retail outlets serving its iconic menu to 68 million customers daily. The business model adopted by the company has been hailed as a modern marvel allowing the company to achieve a very high degree of standardization and very healthy bottom lines for both itself and its franchisees and affiliates. Some insights:
Consistency
Irrespective of wherever you might be in the world, you can recognize a McDonald’s outlet from far and walk in and be sure that you will enjoy a familiar experience as far as the menu, wrapping of the food, and building design is concerned. McDonald’s is so obsessive about maintaining consistency of its food items and service delivery that it even instituted the famous Hamburger University way back in 1961 as a training institute that lays emphasis on “consistent restaurant operations procedures, service, quality, and cleanliness.” Even today, franchisees from all over the world attend the course to learn about the vision that drives McDonald’s operations and implement it globally. It is established that enforcing consistency not only aids in satisfying the customer better but also increases productivity too.
Branding
McDonald’s is one of the most recognized brands today worldwide. Its branding efforts have gone far beyond its iconic “Golden Arches” symbols and “I’m loving It” tagline and created an emotional connect that takes customers back to their childhood. The bonding with the brand is so strong that customers prefer to buy from McDonald’s even though they are fully aware of the fact that there are more superior products in the market. The branding is also a product of the emphasis that the company puts into achieving consistency – wherever you are in the whole wide world the fries that you taste in one country will be exactly the same in any other country you care to name. Creating a brand is a difficult process but it is the sole property that any company has that will convert customers into loyalists and advocates.
Risk Taking
Even though the ruling mantras at McDonald’s are standardization and consistency, the company has never been shy of taking risks associated with making changes to the menu. The original menu comprising burgers, cheeseburgers, potato fries, shakes, and colas have been retained but a number of additions have been made to the breakfast menu as well as introduced concepts like the Happy Meal, Filet-O-fish, McNuggets, Mc Ribs, and salads. Even though certain offerings like McPizza and McLobster have been spectacular failures, they have played their role in the company becoming aware of customer preferences, and surely the company would not have become what it is today had it not been for these lessons.
Adaptability
The prime reason why McDonald’s refuses to rest on its laurels and continues to experiment with the menu and run the risk of making expensive mistakes is because it knows that it is extremely important to stay alive to the ever-changing needs and preferences of customers. Health consciousness is on the rise, and McDonald’s dropped the option of Super Size in favor of healthier alternatives. The very first drive-in was offered in 1975 to cater to soldiers of an Arizona base. When it entered India, it quickly realized that no item could contain beef because of religious sensitivities and accordingly tailored its menu options. The customer preference for spicier fare was also taken into account and the spice quotient bumped up substantially.
Talent Spotting
It may come as a surprise to most that 40% of the executives at McDonald’s began their careers at the company as employees paid by the hour. The company relentlessly pursues a program, whereby it focuses on spotting talent and then creating situations whereby they can work up the ladder. Not only do employees see growth prospects and tend to become company loyalists but also know each aspect of the business and contribute to creating a company that shares a single vision.