KEY
POINTS:
• Trade is a process of negotiation and interaction between
people that requires understanding of different cultures and
beliefs
• Trade interaction leads to personal interaction and
understanding
ACTIVITY: Exporting American Fast Food (8th and up).
McDonald’s
opens a new store someplace in the world dozens of times every
day. Some people view this expansion of American fast food
as a terrible example of the encroachment of American ideas
into other countries. Yet McDonald’s and other American
fast food chains are extremely popular with adults, teens
and younger customers in the countries where they are located.
These restaurants cater to locals far more than to American
tourists. In part, the success of these companies abroad is
due to the fact that they offer fast and affordable food in
a setting that is often new and unique for the local customers.
In some locations, these fast food restaurants provide a place
where young people can “hang out,” something that
local traditional restaurants may not encourage. Often these
fast food restaurants are operated as “franchises.”
This means that local business people who are part of the
community own and operate the restaurants, and thus a large
portion of the revenue generated by the restaurant stays within
the community. As with any successful business venture, a
thriving fast food restaurant provides jobs, many of which
are suitable for entry-level workers. Many American fast food
chains such as McDonalds also have a long history of community
service activities and encourage their overseas franchisees
to uphold this tradition.
Divide
the class into groups of potential McDonald’s restaurant
franchisees and groups of local officials and consumers. Each
franchisee group will negotiate to open a new store in one
of the the following cities (class can add other cities/countries):
Cape
Town, South Africa
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Hong Kong, China
Lagos, Nigeria
Moscow, Russia
New Delhi, India
Venice, Italy
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| A. |
Students
research the local dietary customs, social traditions,
historical preservation laws, sourcing of supplies and
so on for the locations that have been chosen, and prepare
a report to the class that describes the critical issues
that they must address in order to open their restaurant. |
| B.
|
Make
up a McDonald’s menu that would be appropriate for
countries with customers that follow these traditions:
Hindu
Buddhist
Muslim
Orthodox
Jewish
How does the McDonald’s menu vary in different
countries? |
| C. |
Using
the information developed in parts A & B, each potential
franchisee group must conduct negotiations with their
corresponding local group to try and win approval for
opening their restaurant. |
| Exploring
these additional topics may add credibility to the presentations: |
| D. |
Visit
the McDonald’s web site at www.mcdonalds.com,
and also see if there are other resources (foreign newspapers,
etc.) that can assist in answering the following question:
What other menu, advertising and even architectural adjustments
does McDonald’s make to
attract local customers in other countries? |
| E. |
McDonalds
trains and employs people in restaurant locations in 120
countries all over the world.
What impact does this employment have on the local
communities?
What kind of jobs are available? |
| F. |
(9th
and up) Explore the idea of franchising vs. corporate
control.
Some McDonald’s units are operated by local companies
that “franchise” the name and operating expertise.
What does this mean to the local economy? |
| G. |
(9th
and up)
How much does a typical McDonald’s meal cost
in different countries, in their local currency?
What does this equate to in U.S. dollars?
As a percentage of the average local wage, how does
the price of a typical McDonald’s meal compare
among different countries and with the U.S?
|
| H. |
Visit
the web site at www.mcdonalds.com/countries
to learn more about what McDonald’s is doing in
specific countries to help the communities in which
they exist.
|
Suggestions for Assessment
Assess for accuracy. Require proof (bibliography) for conclusions
about local customs and traditions. (Assess bibliography for
reliability of sources). |
