is mcdonalds a learning organization?

"McDonalds is evolving to remain relevant to consumers world-wide.  By
featuring a variety of Value, Premium and Wholesome menu offerings we
can deliver the right products at the right price for our customers."
"It's clear to me that we have turned the corner and are embarking on
2004 with a stronger playbook.  Our plan to win is driving results and
we are gaining momentum."

Those are quotes from the Investor's Fact Sheet at the McDonalds webpage
http://mcdonalds.com/corp/invest/pub/2004_fact_sheet.html

I've heard it said (and agree with the fact) that McDonalds is the
market pusher.  They focus alot on market research and new innovative
ideas.  It was done when they started fast food chains (others
followed), when they added chicken & fish to their menu (others
followed), when they open new locations (notice that other fast food
chains tend to open close to McDonalds), when they introduced the Big
Mac (others soon after came out with the Whopper and other
recognizable signature sandwiches), and now introducing healthy
options in their fast food restaurants.  McDonalds always seems to be
on the cutting edge and only after others see what McDonalds is doing
do they jump on board to reep the benefits.

I've frankly never been a big fan of MickyD's (although i must admit a
weakness for their fries), but I would definately say they have been
and continue to be a learning organization in the fact that they tend
to stay ahead of and even set the trends in the fast food industry.

Thank you!

I've heard of egg-a-muffin university, but can't tell you if it actually exists.

Hamburger University
http://www.mcdonalds.com/corp/career/hamburger_university.html

"Today, more than 65,000 managers in McDonald's restaurants have
graduated from Hamburger University, now located in a 130,000 square
foot, state-of-the-art facility on the McDonald's Home Office Campus
in Oak Brook, Illinois, with a faculty of 30 resident professors.

Because of McDonald's international scope, translators and electronic
equipment enable professors to teach and communicate in 22 languages
at one time. McDonald's also manages ten international training
centers, including Hamburger Universities in England, Japan, Germany
and Australia."