- McDonald's -
A once great company can be great again
Posted by: Mike Bacon ( Bedford, TX, USA ) on July 12, 1997 at 01:49:53:
In Reply to: a once great company posted by Dee Isner on July 10, 1997 at 15:23:55:
: : When driving an airport limousine in the early 1980's, I had the experience of meeting many McDonald's execs, as the limo company for which I worked serviced McD's world headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois. Almost without exception, these individuals were uncannily young, often in their late 20's or early 30's, and aggressively obnoxious. I gained the distinct impression that they had been recruited primarily on the basis of their rudeness and exaggerated self-importance.
: : The one incident that most stands out in my mind is of a 30-ish McD's exec who got in the limo for a ride to the airport. After a cursory hello, the first words to leave his mouth were "How much (money) do you make doing this?".
: : To this I replied something like "Enough to suffice, thanks".
: : His quick response was "Well, I make forty-five thousand dollars a year".
: : I was non-plussed, and said something like "gosh, that's nice", but obviously he was quite impressed with the statement, as with himself.: Jeff, your story hits the nail squarely and illustrates a contributing factor to the demise of a once great company . . . ARROGANCE. Unfortunately, not much has changed since the 80's. Corporate decision makers are consumed with self-importance, we can do no wrong, and only persons such as me can make the right decisions. Disdain for subordinates as filtered to the lower ranks and erroded moral and productivity. Only when the brashness and arrogance of the type you described is changed or eliminated, will this company again begin to grow. Dee, is there any chance of you company employees getting together with the Franchise owners, and sorting this out with those blowhards? Get together, and flood the Corporate office with grievance letters. There is strength in numbers! The franchise owners should especially get on their butt!!! Make those execs earn their money and bennies!!! The owners should demand more involvement in the decision-making, and other improvements that will benefit them!!!
Follow Ups:
|