Introduction
Disney Company, commonly known as Walt Disney, is an American media and entertainment network whose headquarters are located in Burbank, California. The company was founded in 1923 by Walt and Roy Disney brothers. Before changing its name to Walt Disney back in 1986, the company operated under different names, such as Walt Disney studio and Walt Disney productions (Bohas, 2017). Today, the company is a famous American animation industry, with popular characters like Mickey Mouse. After gaining popularity in the 50s, the corporation diversified into live-action films and television series. In 2018, the company revolutionized management, creating two business segments (Carillo et al., 2018). This move was considered strategically positioning the company at a better profit margin.
Theories and concepts of operation
Walt Disney Company’s operations are based on different theories and concepts. These concepts have helped the company focus on people and create happy conditions for its workers, enhancing their loyalty to the corporation (Rukstad, Collis& Levine, 2019). Employee engagement is one of the theories that has aided the company in improving its operations. Since the company is extensive and expanding its markets, it has more than 60,000 workers. Their primary focus has been on people and creating a healthy working environment.
Another concept that Walt Disney Company applies is the “Spirit of FRED” (friendly, resourceful, enthusiastic, and dependable) recognition program (Rukstad, Collis& Levine, 2019). This has helped employees achieve and gain morale and create a sense of belonging. By maintaining regulations, the company has equipped its employees with the right attitudes that help them improve performance by achieving their goals.
Walt Disney Company and incorporation into the American culture
The company’s organizational culture is significantly intertwined with the American culture. Disney’s corporate culture has ensured that employees reflect their ideas and goals that align with customer preferences and expectations in media and entertainment (Croteau & Hoynes, 2012). This has enabled the company to blend into the American culture, a culture that has enabled the company to gain popularity. An example is the employee’s advocacy for good stories has helped to manage and satisfy the customer expectation in movies and related TV programs. The growing link and intertwining of culture between Disney and America contribute to business success in the States.
Symbols and ideologies
It is impossible to imagine a world without Disney movies, their characters, and all those great things that the network has brought into people’s lives (Rukstad, Collis& Levine, 2019). The enterprise has used symbols such as innocence, warmth, and resilience to people all over the globe by manipulating fantasy. An example is the Mickey Mouse creations which have played an essential part in shaping the way people perceive fantasy from reality.
Organizational diagnosis
The network channel comprises strategic business units, studio, parka and reports, media, and consumer products. These units are further subdivided into different categories of brands (Wasko, 2017). Of the numerous sub-units, entertainment and information are the two outstanding commonalities that have been selected upon thorough evaluation. The company aims to entertain its fans and obtain information (feedback). However, the company ventures into different varieties of operation despite these two operational facets.
One of the most well-known businesses in the entertainment, media, and theme park sectors is The Walt Disney Company (Wasko, 2017). Disney’s situation serves as an outstanding example of good internal and external management, as well as how to remain popular with the public by making risky commercial decisions. Marketing is an essential component of a business that may make or break it. Marketing has migrated to the digital sphere along with users from around the world. The business invests a lot of money in training. This may be a severe weakness for a company like Disney. It should be mentioned as well that Disney’s direct-to-consumer streaming services have not fared well. Despite the fact that streaming subscription-based content is becoming more and more popular.
Conclusion
Walt Disney can enhance productivity and maintain its customer fan base by embracing a non-invasive technology that can help to track its customers. This technology can help the company mine data around customer preferences based on their characteristics. This can be later on used to improve customer experience and boost the company’s market. This technology will maintain customer privacy while boosting the company’s profits. The organization’s market has been expanding vertically and horizontally, so the company can use this growth strategy to its advantage by introducing new products to the market (Wasko, 2017). This broad fan base will help them acquire easy, fast, and reliable feedback from its customers.
References
Bohas, A. (2017). Transnational firms and the knowledge structure: The case of the Walt Disney Company. Global Society, 29(1), 23-41.
Carillo, C., Crumley, J., Thieringer, K., & Harrison, J. S. (2018). The Walt Disney Company: A Corporate Strategy Analysis.
Croteau, D., & Hoynes, W. (2012). Experience sociology. McGraw-Hill Higher Education.
Rukstad, M. G., Collis, D. J., & Levine, T. (2019). The Walt Disney Company: The Entertainment King. Harvard Business School.
Wasko, J. (2017). The Walt Disney Company. In Global media giants (pp. 11-25). Routledge.
Wasko, J. (2021). Challenging Disney Myths. Journal of Communication Inquiry, 25(3), 237-257.