A manager is like the seed of an oak tree;
many won't make it,
few would succeed,
but if tendered and cared for,
it grows stronger, resisting the elements;
it stands tall, proud,
looming over a beautiful landscape of flowers.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Blogging
Let me start off by saying this is the first time in my life I've ever had a professor using blogs as a way to communicate, interact and entertain yourself outside of class and still get 20% extra towards your final grade. The whole experience for me was overall pretty good. First because I had the chance to express my ideas, my thoughts or concerns in regards of the activities we did in class and second, because the blog is such a great way to know other classmates a little more in depth.In my personal opinion, professor Kurpis should continue to use the blog for future classes. Not only because it keep us busy and engaged with the class, but also we have the opportunities to express our thoughts and feelings about the class in very informal way. What I mean by informal, is that we do not have to write long essay or think that we are writing something that only the professor will read. On the other hand, it makes it more fun when you are writing for other students because you tend to loose it up a little bit more and be more honest in regards of your thoughts or feelings about anything that happens in class.I wish I could have the time to read every single blog but since the class was too large, it was quite impossible to make it happen. The whole experience, and reading other students experiences, was just great!!! Two thumbs up for the blogs!!!
"Hurry Up..she might be the inspector!" McDonalds
It was a Sunday evening and I was out with my mother picking up some things from Target, once we done with our shopping, I noticed that there was a McDonalds located within the shopping center. When I saw the big golden “M” I told my mother if she wouldn’t mind if we can stop in there quickly; she looked at me and said, “We just ate in the house not too long ago, you’re still hungry??” That was when I told her about the extra credit assignment, and she agreed to accompany me. While walking into the fast food restaurant, she asked me if she can “pleaaaase” place the order so that I can just stand next to her and analyze everything that’s going on in the back. So I told her that she must stress the four extra pickles and French fries with NO salt, she agreed and we walked in. She felt that maybe the employees will extend more courtesy to her since she is older than I am, and maybe feel a bit more intimidated. We were both anxious to see how the young staff of employees was going to react with the curve ball that was going to be thrown at them.
It was close to 8 pm and there weren’t that many people in this Mickey D’s, there were a few tables taken, but there was no long line to place the order. There was only one person next to who was placing their order at the register next to us. So my mother places the order and stresses that she needs a hamburger with FOUR extra pickles and I cut in and said “oh and can you please add an order of small fries with NO salt, please (and smiled).” David (the young man who took our order), at first looked at us as if we were joking around, and my mom kept a serious face and he finally realized we were serious. David repeated our order to us, just to make sure he heard “everything right” and we both shook our heads. My mother then added, “David can you please make sure that our order is printed exactly on our receipt.” As a result David shook his head but in a very intimated and nervous manner. David then went off to the back and made sure he told the French fry girl and hamburger boy the “special” order we had placed. I then heard David tell those two employees in Spanish that he thought that my mom maybe some sort of inspector checking up on them so they better get the order right and fast. As we were waiting we noticed that all 3 employees were working at a hasty pace yet trying to show how nervous they were. David then told us kindly if we can please sit down and wait for the new batch of fries to be made.
So my mother decided to sit down, but I stepped to the side and stood by the counter so I can observe better. To not make it obvious I pulled out my phone and pretended I was texting, when I was really timing them. David started pacing around the register area probably because she had nothing to do but to wait for my order to be completed, and was constantly looking back to see if the hamburger boy and French fry girl were almost done. While the girl was waiting for the French fries, she told the other people in the drive thru to come and look at the people who ordered the “French fries with no salt”. The other employees were looking at us as if my mother and I had come from another planet. After 6 minutes and 20 seconds, David caught my attention and said, “Here you go Miss, your order is done. Sorry for the wait and we hope you enjoy your meal-- Thank you for choosing McDonalds and have a nice evening (and smiled).
As previously mentioned it took a total of three workers to get involved—the cashier and the hamburger boy and French fry girl. From what I experienced, I thought the service was good, considering they were hit with a curve ball. Although they were a bit nervous, I feel they did a decent job. If I was a consultant to McDonalds, I’d recommend that employees keep comments to themselves or say them when customers aren’t around. The order preparation was okay, considering the fact that they tried to stay calm while fulfilling my special requests. Communication between the employees was good. Coordination-wise, the workers did well, except when the cashier got nervous and started pacing back and forth by the register; perhaps he could’ve either made conversation with me the customer (since there was no other orders to take) or maybe help the people at the drive thru. My only other suggestion is for McDonalds to come up with a better way to relay specific customized orders to the kitchen staff because the cashier had walked to the back to tell his coworkers personally our order. This way, things would be more efficient and the cashiers can spend more time interacting with the customers. For the most part, my experience at McDonalds was pretty good; I left with a “smile on” -- McDonalds did a job well done when thrown a curve ball like customized orders come its way.
It was close to 8 pm and there weren’t that many people in this Mickey D’s, there were a few tables taken, but there was no long line to place the order. There was only one person next to who was placing their order at the register next to us. So my mother places the order and stresses that she needs a hamburger with FOUR extra pickles and I cut in and said “oh and can you please add an order of small fries with NO salt, please (and smiled).” David (the young man who took our order), at first looked at us as if we were joking around, and my mom kept a serious face and he finally realized we were serious. David repeated our order to us, just to make sure he heard “everything right” and we both shook our heads. My mother then added, “David can you please make sure that our order is printed exactly on our receipt.” As a result David shook his head but in a very intimated and nervous manner. David then went off to the back and made sure he told the French fry girl and hamburger boy the “special” order we had placed. I then heard David tell those two employees in Spanish that he thought that my mom maybe some sort of inspector checking up on them so they better get the order right and fast. As we were waiting we noticed that all 3 employees were working at a hasty pace yet trying to show how nervous they were. David then told us kindly if we can please sit down and wait for the new batch of fries to be made.
So my mother decided to sit down, but I stepped to the side and stood by the counter so I can observe better. To not make it obvious I pulled out my phone and pretended I was texting, when I was really timing them. David started pacing around the register area probably because she had nothing to do but to wait for my order to be completed, and was constantly looking back to see if the hamburger boy and French fry girl were almost done. While the girl was waiting for the French fries, she told the other people in the drive thru to come and look at the people who ordered the “French fries with no salt”. The other employees were looking at us as if my mother and I had come from another planet. After 6 minutes and 20 seconds, David caught my attention and said, “Here you go Miss, your order is done. Sorry for the wait and we hope you enjoy your meal-- Thank you for choosing McDonalds and have a nice evening (and smiled).
As previously mentioned it took a total of three workers to get involved—the cashier and the hamburger boy and French fry girl. From what I experienced, I thought the service was good, considering they were hit with a curve ball. Although they were a bit nervous, I feel they did a decent job. If I was a consultant to McDonalds, I’d recommend that employees keep comments to themselves or say them when customers aren’t around. The order preparation was okay, considering the fact that they tried to stay calm while fulfilling my special requests. Communication between the employees was good. Coordination-wise, the workers did well, except when the cashier got nervous and started pacing back and forth by the register; perhaps he could’ve either made conversation with me the customer (since there was no other orders to take) or maybe help the people at the drive thru. My only other suggestion is for McDonalds to come up with a better way to relay specific customized orders to the kitchen staff because the cashier had walked to the back to tell his coworkers personally our order. This way, things would be more efficient and the cashiers can spend more time interacting with the customers. For the most part, my experience at McDonalds was pretty good; I left with a “smile on” -- McDonalds did a job well done when thrown a curve ball like customized orders come its way.
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