Extra Credit Assignment (McDonald's)

In order to get myself a little more comfortable into placing an unusual order at McDonald’s, I decided to go to the McDonald’s just around my house in Little Neck. That was where I grew up and came to love McDonald’s as a little girl; I approached for the door and found many unfamiliar faces. I got on the shortest line with a friendly cashier that looks like he doesn’t hate every minute of his job. It wasn’t long until, it was my turn to order. I took a deep breath to prepare myself for any embarrassment and overcome my discomfort. I started to spoke in a very polite tone for a small hamburger with exactly four pickles on it. I noticed the cashier wasn’t paying much attention to the first part of my sentence until I stress exactly four pickles. He looked up from his computer and raised his eyebrow at me. Then I continued by asking for a well-done small fries with no salt. He apologized and told me he might need a long time to get my hamburger order right. I told him to take his time. When he looked up at me again, I repeated the fact that the fries have to be well done with no salt. So far he had not show any sign of annoyances or comment on my unusual order. When I told him, I want everything that I just said to be print on the receipt, he looked very confused and ask me why. Of course, I did not answer him instead I gave him a smile and ask him to fulfill my order.
The cashier asked me to wait and approached a lady standing by the fries. He whispered into her ear for about 30 seconds. He came back and told me he can not indicate no salt on the receipt. Before I can say anything, the lady that he was talking to came over with a bag of French Fries in her hand. She also had a pin on her that print manager and her name on it. She told me they never did this before (put no salt on the receipt) and asked me why. Instead of answering her question, I asked her if there is anyone else that can help me. She said no and told me that there is no key on the computer that would add no salt on the receipt. Meanwhile, the cashier went over to the burger makers, told them four prickles and I noticed he hold up four fingers. We both paused for a moment. She handed me the receipt and I noticed that it only said add prickle on it. I asked her to print a receipt with add FOUR prickles on it. She paused a little while and told me the computer doesn’t allow her to do that. Finally, she took out a pen from her pocket and wrote “(4 Pcs)” on the receipt. I asked her to sign her name on the receipt to prove that I tried but failed to have the manager print a receipt that I wanted. At that point, I didn’t know anything else that I could do because the manager was the only person with the most knowledge about her restaurant. I thank her for her service and took my order.
There were three people that got involved in the process, the cashier, the manager, and the hamburger crew. The order took about 6 minutes to be completed. The cashier was confused about why I wanted a receipt that had to be so specific, but he did not show any sign of annoyance instead he apologize he need to make me wait. Yet the manager was annoyed when I told her several times about what I wanted on the receipt. However, she never raised her voice or treat me with disrespect. When I got the order it was correct.
I would rate the staff’s manufacturing process as normal and well trained because the cashier knew to seek help immediately when he realized he could not fulfill my order. The communications and coordination should be rate above average when the cashier went over to the manager, they didn’t give me any eyes or point finger at me and the whole process moved smoothly to give me the right order. As for the customer service processes, I would rate that as poor because the manager didn’t even tried to play around with the computer to get what I want. It is either she didn’t have the proper knowledge with the computer or she didn’t care to get me what I want.
If I were brought in as a consultant to McDonald’s to help them improve their efficiency, I would recommend the computer have an input system where the cashier would be able to type up the special order and the price, instead of reject the customer’s request.

The ABCs of DISC

For the most part the test accurately gauges my management orientation. I am a major C minor D. This means that I am diplomatic, tactful, cautious, careful and systematic person that needs accurate information before I make a decision. I don’t think I would want to be another type of manager. That would be like change of identity if I change from a C to I, S, or even D type of manager. It is definitely helpful to determine people’s management “type” to better understand where they are coming from. This way we will have less conflict due to personality differences. We will be better able to understand others like they would understand us. This also relate to culture diversity and the same reasons why I am minor in psychology is to understand people better and not make a judgment on what they do.

I would want a D type of leader that would listen to a very knowledge and intelligent C type of person with me in the winter survival scenario we discussed in class. The reason for that is, we need someone that is so powerful that would force everyone to do what he/she think would make everyone survive. We also need a very intelligent C type of person on the team to make decision with accurate information. I think it’s the combination of two that would make the whole group survive.

The Power of Vision

1. Graduated from Baruch’s 5 year CPA Master Program and passed the CPA exam.
2. Buy a house with a huge living room and a beautiful closet for my clothes and shoes.
3. Own a successful accounting firm
4. Buy a small motel/hotel in the beautiful countryside
5. Take at least one vacation every year to a different country.

As a college sophomore, my first and most important vision is to graduate from Baruch with a Bachelor and Master degree in 5 years. Then pass the CPA exam during the first time. I had taking many actions to make my vision possible. I went to the Academic Advising Center to make sure that I am taking the correct courses and plan to apply for overload to take extra classes. I’m also taking summer and winter classes to graduate on time. My second vision would be to start working and save money to buy a nice house with a huge living room and a beautiful closet for my clothes and shoes. I want a pretty closet just like Carrie’s closet in the movie, Sex and the City. My third vision would be to own a successful accounting firm. In order to do so I would be moving from job to job every few years to gain experience, observe and learn management and other skills of different accounting firms. If I make a good profit from my accounting firm, I would buy a small motel or hotel in the countryside. I would also put a certain amount of money away every month to save up for the vacation I would take every year to a different country to enjoy the rich culture, food, and the beautiful places.