My Trip to McDonald's Restaurant

     McDonald’s? Hamburger? French fries? It may sound weird but I never have eaten in McDonald’s restaurant. I always manage the food that I eat, and I don’t eat any “junk” or fast food. That’s why before going there I asked my friend to come with me, so she can eat my order.                                     

     It was Saturday, November 13, when we went to McDonald’s. It was very nice, sunny and pretty warm day. My friend and I finished our grocery shopping around 12 pm and on our way back home to her house we went to make my special order in McDonald’s restaurant for my extra credit. I was excited and anxious the same time. When we walked in the restaurant I was little bit upset because I did not expect to see so many people there. However, it was too crowded, we waited only around 5-6 minutes to be served. Customer service was excellent and cashiers seemed to be trained very well because they did their job very fast and efficiently. When we approached the cashier my fear disappeared because she was so nice with me. “What would you like today?” she asked us with a big smile. I told her that I need a special order: one small hamburger with exactly five pickles on it, French fries well done with a side of Big Mac sauce. While I was telling her my order she was looking at me with disappointment. “Ok, we will do that for you,” she said. Then I asked her that I want a printed receipt which reflects my exact special order. She tried several times to type five pickles on the receipt but she could not do that. “I am sorry, but I can not put five pickles on the receipt”, she replied. I insisted that I need exactly # 5 on my receipt and it is very important for me. She looked upset and puzzled and then she said to wait for two seconds for the manager. We were lucky because the manager was there. I saw the cashier talking to the manager explaining what we need. The manager was smiling when approached and asked us how she can help us. I explained her again what I need exactly five pickles on my receipt. The manager tried by herself to type five pickles but she could not do that as well as the cashier did not. Then the manager proposed me to put five times extra pickles on my receipt. I said that it will be perfect for me if she does that. In addition, I asked the manager to specify on my receipt Big Mac sauce, but she said that they do not have the option for Big Mac sauce and she can type only sauce. I agreed. As a result, the manager solved the problem and did what I wanted and I got my order and my receipt. Even though, I appreciated the manager for the order I decided to open it at the counter to verify its correctness. Everybody in McDonald’s restaurant was looking at us: the customers were smiling but employees were looking with suspicious. It was very funny situation. My order was exactly accurate and I took a picture which is attached on the last page of this paper. The manager was looking at me with suspicious too. After I took my picture I said them: “Thank you very much!!! It was for my assignment!” Then customers started laughing as well as employees and the manager.

          Organization. The manufacturing process of my special order was accurate and efficient. I was able to see how my order was prepared on the back of the restaurant. The manager and the cahier set up to handle “extra special” order very effectively.

          Communication between employees was effective and professional. I was able to see the conversation between the cashier who placed my order and the manager who was responsive to her employees and customers. Both, the manager and the cashier, were very polite and behave professionally in order to help me. They were customer effective and I have no any recommendations to make for the improvement.

          Training of the employees was very efficient and effective. It seemed that they were properly trained how to satisfy their customers.

          Leadership. The manager displayed true leadership traits during my McDonald’s restaurant visit. She tried to help and satisfy the customers in very professional manner. For example, the manager proposed her own solution for the problem when I insisted that I need exactly five pickles to be typed on my receipt. She proposed to type five times extra pickles and it worked.

     In general, it was very amazing and excited trip to McDonald’s restaurant I ever had in my life. And it is not just because it was my first time placing an order in McDonald’s but more because it was a great experience of observation and solving the problem, and learning how to behave in complicated and unpredictable situations.