What makes a theory work? If there is an excellent example of a theory that works, then it is George Ritzer's McDonaldization thesis. Its success can be attributed to Ritzer's exploration of a different way of theorising that can be seen as consistent with his biography and lifestyle – perhaps a best practice model. As a result, the McDonaldization thesis is taken as an analytical scheme that has not only framed many innovative and relevant questions, but has also generated important answers. This paper, however, does not discuss the content of this famous work, but is inspired by the author’s encounters with Ritzer.
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