The Principles of Bureaucracy

And the
Elements of McDonaldization
In Greenwich Pizza, Robinsons Place

In Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements
In Social Science 1 (Society and Culture)

Submitted by:
Mona Victoria B. Ponsaran
Mia Grace Villeza
Geraldine Silveo
Rogelette

Sapra

Camille Therese P. Salido

Submitted to:
Ms. Ma. Cristy E. Daguay

February 27, 2014

Bureaucracy
A bureaucracy is a system of organization noted for its size
and

complexity.

Everything

within

bureaucracy

responsibilities, jobs, and assignments exists to achieve some

goal.
All bureaucracies share similar characteristics, including
specialization
competence,

of

tasks,

Impersonality,

hierarchy
formal

of

offices,

communication,

technical

and

written

rules. In the best circumstances, these characteristics allow a

bureaucracy to function smoothly.
What the Activity is all about?
It is all about how bureaucracy works in the actual setup.
We would like to validate what we have learned in class and in
what we have observed in a fast food center.
We want to know the comparison between a fast-food center
and in the University of San Agustin in terms of how bureaucracy
works in their respective organizations.
What we did?
We prepared a letter to the manager of our chosen fast-food
center,

Greenwich

interview

with

her

Pizza,

asking

regarding

how

her

permission

bureaucracy

to

works

have
in

an

their

management.
How we did it?
When the manager allowed us to interview her, we immediately
started asking her questions. And she answered confidently and
professionally.

We asked her permission if we could interview a few of her

personnel, but unfortunately, she did not allowed us because of
the reason that they were very busy at that moment.
So we decided to stay and eat there for a while in order for
us

to

observe

further

how

bureaucracy

exists

in

their

organization.
All about Greenwich
Greenwich Pizza is one true Filipino pizza chain, a small
entrepreneurship

that

made

an

extraordinary

leap

to

the

big

league. What started out as a small over-the-counter pizza store

in

the

Green

hills

Commercial

Center

in

1971,

is

now

the

Philippines biggest pizza chain.

In

1994, Jollibee

Foods

Corporation obtained

deal

acquiring 80% of Greenwich shareholding. Then in 2006 Jollibee

Foods Corp. bought out the remaining shares of its partners in
Greenwich

Pizza

Corp.,

equivalent

to

20%

stake,

million in cash. The new company was called

Corporation,

and

the franchise experienced

for

P384

Greenwich Pizza

rapid

expansion.

From 50 stores in 1994, as of 2005 there are over 240 stores and
an annual revenue of over P4 billion. As of 2011 there are over
330 stores.
They are not just the biggest. They are the Philippines
favorite

pizza

chain.

exciting

pizza

and

They

pasta

give

you

innovations,

scrumptious
all

prepared

blend

of

for

the

comfort of the Filipino taste. More than just delicious food

choices, they offer to transform your everyday dining into shared
delightful moments with friends.

An interview with the manager

1. What is your position here?
- My name is Michelle Gonzales. I am the restaurant manager
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

8.

here.
How long have you been here?
I have been here for almost 3 years already
Did you start out as manager or were you promoted?
I started out as a manager
How many people are under you?
I have 35 people under me.
To whom are you accountable?
Top management
As manager, what are your functions?
Over-all functions. (Planning, Directing etc.)
What positions are under your supervision?
o Assistant restaurant manager
o Crew team leader
o Regular crew
o Probationary
o Contractuals
Can you please describe the function of each position?
o Assistant restaurant manager
Man power management
Marketing
Safety and Security
Food Safety
Trainings
o Crew team leader
It depends on the manager on what task will he/she

assign to the crew team leader.

They can be considered as a junior-manager
They are allowed to open the store but cannot

handle cash
There
are

restrictions

when

it

comes

to

responsibility
o Regular crew
They are the ones training to become contractuals
o Probationary
They are the persons that are close to having a
regular job
o Contractuals

They

are

the

ones

assigned

to

each

station.

(Cashiering, etc.)
9. How do you relay instructions to your personnel?
- If it is critical, I relay instructions as soon as possible.
When it comes to planning I do it monthly but if it is longterm I do it yearly.
10.
If there are issues to be resolved, how do you resolve
-

them?
I resolve them through communication. Talk it over with the
crew. Proper sanctions will be given to persons involve with

the issues according to the Department of Labor Conduct.

11.
Please
describe
the
relationships
among
your
-

subordinate.
Yes, they have barkada relationships. And I think it can
contaminate their thinking. For example, when it is pay day,
they go out drinking all night. Then the next day when they
go to work, they cannot perform their tasks effectively

because they are hung over.

12.
Please describe your relationship with your staff?
- I deal with them professionally. I dont have close
friendships with them, because it might affect my decisions
later on. Thats why I have to maintain manager-employee
relationship in order for me to perform effectively and also
to avoid bias among my subordinates.
13.
Can you please describe a typical day in Greenwich
-

Pizza?
Checking

functionality

of

equipment

and

checking

of

profitability.
14.
Would you say your organization is running smoothly and
-

effectively?
I would say that our organization is running smoothly and
effectively.

We

are

able

to

cater

the

needs

of

our

customers. You would know if an organization is running

productively if there are no complaints from the customers

and having a good feedback. That is our basis of knowing

that our organization is running efficiently.

While eating from the fast-food restaurant we chose, we have

observed that some personnel are allowed to perform activities
other than what is assigned. We have also noticed that when
there are absences in the group the one that takes over is the
manager. Logically thinking, if none takes over the absences
of the group, the operations of the organization will be in
disarray if not chaotic.

Conclusion:
How the following characteristics of Bureaucracy takes place
in Greenwich Pizza:
Specialization of Tasks

In University of San Agustin

Different people in San Agustin specialize in different jobs

and

are

assigned

in

highly

specialized

duties.

They

have

organizational structure that represents the people with their

respective positions and responsibilities.

In Greenwich Pizza

They are the same as in the University of San Agustin having

an organizational structure assigning a particular person to a
specific task in order to get the job done efficiently.
The organizational structure is the most efficient way of
getting the job done.
According to our further observations we come to realized
that some of the characteristics of Bureaucracy arent always
applied, like for example, the specialization of tasks. Some of
the crew does other tasks aside from what is assigned to them.

Hierarchy of Offices

In University of San Agustin

Since there is specialization of tasks, the various activities
must be coordinated. The authority is specified according to
their organizational chart. For example, under the friars, are
the sisters in different congregation and the board of trustees,
and then under the sisters in different congregations are the
human resources and the accounting staffs and so on and so forth
until the last position there is.

In Greenwich pizza
It is similar to the University of San Agustin having an

organizational chart that each level assigns responsibilities

to the level below it, with each lower level liable to the
level above them for performing the tasks assigned to them.

Impersonality

In University of San Agustin

Here in our university, rules are slightly important because

in some cases, things are being excused on the said rules because
of their personal relationship with others. That is why, in some
circumstances, the organization is being unfair not only to the
students but to those who work in San Agustin.

In Greenwich fast food

As we observed, it is the rules which are more important on

their workplace and not for what relationship you have with the
manager. It promotes a fair treatment between the manager and
workers.
Impersonality, according to the manager, she has been in the
company for over Three years already but never had close personal
relationships among her co-workers because she prefer to maintain
professionalism.
Technical Competence

In USA, I think they also practiced the technical competence

which you are given incentives or rewards for what youve
done for the university that is why the hours of their work
particularly

in

teachers

are

checked

and

monitored

regularly.

Same

as

in

fast

foods,

rewards

are

given

based

on

the

employees performance, and not for who they may be. That is
why

their

performance

regularly monitored.

Written Rules

and

renditions

are

strictly

and

In our University, we are also governed with rules which are

our limitations and our clear cut definition of our tasks
that sometimes may be violated.

In fast food chain, they are strictly obliged to follow the

rules, but similar to the University of San Agustin, it may
be violated. Rules are necessary for the employees to have a
harmonious relationship in their workplace making them aware
of their limitations.

Formal Communication

In the University of San Agustin, they are using formal or

written way of communicating to their members or staffs.

They use memorandum and reports in communicating.

In Greenwich pizza, they also use reports and memorandums in
interacting with each other.

They rely on these memorandums and reports rather than casual

face to face interactions.

Therefore we conclude that, Bureaucracy in a Fast Food Chain

is really important because as we interviewed the manager about
their operation in Greenwich it made us realized that a business

especially a fast food chain needs to have the characteristics of

Bureaucracy in order to function well.

Organizational Structure of the University of San Agustin

Organizational Structure of Greenwich Pizza