A Crash Course on Creativity

Assignment 2: ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION?

• I haven’t felt into shopping …

… So I went eating!

@ a McDonalds restaurant located in a train-station (largest from my country)

Note to USA readers: in Europe McDonalds is a totally different thing than in US.

• For my surprise, the place was extremely crowded comparing to what I was used to … as you’ll be able to notice from my pictures (by the way - I’m sorry for the pictures’ quality, but I wasn’t allowed to take pictures and therefore my phone hadn’t got time to focus during my paparazzi sessions).

• I asked the manager why is that and she told me that is due to the bad weather (see below).

• So, being something strange and having the creativity class, I started analyzing the environment, the personnel and the customers as I was instructed. (I skipped the before entering the store analysis since I was already there) …

• Environment: – The restaurant was organized as a backyard

behind some houses … pretty familiar and friendly.– Music was playing (a local radio, nice music),

volume was acceptable.

• Appropriateness?• Not quite so:– In a train station restaurant you’ll probably want a

clock to show you when to leave … – Another thing you’ll probably want in this kind of

location is a connection with the announcement boards instead of hearing only the radio …

– Lots of luggage … and clothes Some hangers should do the trick …

• Personnel– People in uniform, in the range of 30-40 years old, very friendly,

trying to do their job with all the customers around them, trying to accommodate everyone and to keep the restaurant clean.

• Appropriateness?– Not always - lots of people are there (only) because is a warm place

where you can spend (pleasantly) your spare time without consuming much. The problem is that the employees aren’t allowed to do anything against it and therefore the place is getting crowded …

• Solutions? More or less abusive – Asking permission for/and “cleaning the table” of the not-

consuming customers (this way they might be tempted either to leave or to order something else in order to continue staying).

– Having a waiter asking them if they want to order something else.

• Products– Probably the same products as everywhere in the

world.• Problems?– Maybe they should adapt to the weather and

instead of selling ice-cream and beer, they could try some mulled-wine and hot chocolate.

Picture taken from beerimages.comPicture taken from

germanywanderer.comPicture taken from

newyork.seriouseats.com

• Is that all?

• No, not yet: Although I’m evaluating the restaurant, I think I could also make a note to the train-station administrator:– The passengers had lots of luggage because there

aren’t (enough) short time lockers in the station, therefore:• Either provide some for the public use (and make some

easy money) or • Someone will do it instead of you …

• Now it’s over?– Yes, I’m done …

• Was this appropriate for the homework?– I definitely didn’t follow the rules

(restaurant ≠ shop) and I haven’t evaluated 6 of them …

– But I think it’s appropriate since I made the required analysis and I think I was creative in choosing my subject and in presenting it …

– And I also managed to combine work and pleasure …

– So I’ll let you decide…