Succession Planning at McDonald’s ESSAY

Succession Planning at McDonald’s

A corporate succession plan is the different strategies employed by a given organization in the quest of finding new leaders who would replace the previous leaders. The old leaders step out of their offices either as a result of retirement, resignation or death. The positions that need succession plan are the offices that play a crucial role in the organization. Succession planning in an organization plays the importance of selecting the right employees within the organization to feel the vacant positions. The process allows the successors to develop new skills as they await promotion to their new posts in the group (Collings, 2014).

Overview of McDonald’s

The organization I have chosen is McDonald’s. McDonald’s is a restaurant that was begun by two brothers, Maurice and Richard McDonald, in the year 1940 in California, San Bernardino. The McDonald’s restaurant owes its firm roots to the franchising that took place on April 15, 1955. The organization has over 36,000 retail locations in over 100 countries around the world. Around 80% of the locations are owned by independent business personnel but still operate under one management of McDonald’s (Chen, 2015). McDonald’s restaurant is a fast food joint that specializes in making products such as burgers, muffins, drinks and fries among other foods. The restaurant offers packaged food as well as table service food. Free Wi-Fi services are also available at the restaurant (Chen, 2015).

McDonald’s restaurant has been in the fast food restaurant industry since the year 1940. The organization has been able to remain in the market strongly due to it franchising policy. The plan helps in sustainment of the business in the market despite the emergence of new competitors. The organization has survived in the industry for 76 years since it was formed (Chen, 2015). The mission statement of McDonald’s restaurant state’s that, “To be our clients’ best place and point to eat and drink. We are committed to being an excellent venue for our employees to work; to be a great, practical availability in your society; and to providing the quality, cleanliness, service, and value our clients due to their expectations of a Golden Arches that which is trusted across the world.” The mission statement emphasizes on the right services offered by the restaurant in the quest of making their customers feel at home. The primary objective of the mission statement is to cultivate more clients which mean an increase in sales (Chen, 2015).

Evaluating the Leadership Changes at McDonald’s

Over the past eight years, McDonald’s company has had three shifts in the leadership position. The position in concern here is the Chief Executive Officer office since it is the heart of the organization’s success. Steve Easterbrook, the CEO of McDonald’s as at the present, took over from Don Thompson in January 2015 after his retirement. Don Thompson had been the leader of the organization since the year 2012. Don Thompson had taken over from Jim Skinner who led the team since the year 2004 up to 2012 (Chen, 2015). Jim Skinner was an exceptional leader at McDonald’s restaurant which made him succeed as the Chief Executive Officer. He was well experienced with working at McDonald’s since he had been employed there for 33 years before his appointment to the position. Skinner initiated the “plan to win” strategy in McDonald’s restaurant which played a significant role in his success. After his retirement, Don Thompson who was the Chief Operating Officer of the organization took over.

Thompson had started as an electrical Engineer and went through promotions in the company. His leadership experience around the USA made him excep……………………………….