External Environment

McDonald’s Corporation is currently the largest fast food restaurant, serving around 68 million customers daily in 119 countries. There are currently 34,000 restaurants worldwide and employs 1.7 million people. In order for McDonald's to keep succeeding in being the largest fast food restaurant they need to focus their attention on certain aspects to maintain their success and be the best.

McDonald's is a restaurant that attracts all ages. It has something for the kids, teens, and adults. The dollar menu is a big hit for McDonald's because it draws in those that are willing to spend only a dollar on a hamburger and be satisfied.

This country is starting to become obese; does McDonald's have anything to do with that? Probably yes. So McDonald's needs to start considering implementing healthier options on their menus and start taking away some of the unhealthier foods. I know that they have started adding in fruits, salads, and smoothies, but if this were done to a greater extent at all the locations McDonald’s could help lower the obesity rate of individuals everywhere.

If there was a way for McDonald's to eliminate how much grease is used to cook their food they would be creating much healthier options for us. And if there was an improvement to how much salt is placed on the French fries, that would help eliminate the amount going into the body but also lowering the rate of having high cholesterol.  

Also, if McDonald's started to make their cups, cup holders, wrappers, and napkins more biodegradable it would have a more lasting impression on the world. Helping the environment should be one of McDonald’s objectives when doing business because they do create so much garbage but if they were able to create new earth friendly materials it would help the environments in the long run. 

There will always be the possibility of having new entrants come into the fast food business but the way that McDonald's is operating and conducting itself they should not be worried. They do well in all 119 countries that they serve and will continue to grow.  Since McDonald's is a restaurant they do not have to worry about those purchasing anything off the internet. They are concerned will how well they are publicizing and performing at serving the customers. There is a high chance that substitute products may be produced by another entrant or rival. Because of the increased push on having better food and eating healthier, I believe that if McDonald's does not create healthier products for their line they may end up losing to another company that has a bigger and better product. And lastly, having Burger King and Wendy’s close on them for being the best fast food restaurant, McDonald's needs to keep what it is doing but also paying attention to concerns of their customers, or they may end up losing them. Keeping their dollar menu at a dollar will greatly keep them in good standing and having great customer service will be the number one reason why their customers will continue to stay with them.  Also, making sure that they are satisfying the needs of the certain countries that they are operating in will help them continue to be the best fast food restaurant.

These are just some of the issues that McDonald's could consider doing to make their business better and be more satisfying to the customers. McDonald's can improve on some things within the organization but as long as they continue what they are doing for now, they are golden; they just need to keep up with the new trends and wants of their customers.