Managing strategically
Walt Disney company
the next time you visit Walt Disney world in Florida or Disneyland in California, consider the complexity of finding more than 25,000 people needed to fill more than 1,000 types of jobs that make the entertainment complexes so effective. With over 50 million visitors to Disney world and Disneyland yearly, the company is a reigning star in the entertainment business. Since the mid-1980s, when it went though a major change in senior management and strategic direction. The walt Disney company has developed a reputation for creativity, strong financial management , and very effect approaches to managing people.
The manager and employees of the walt Disney company view themselves as part of a large show or production. This is reflected on the way they speak of themselves, their activities, and the process of selecting new members . eager applicants to the firm are cast for a role, rather than hired for a job. Rather than being employees, applicants who join the firm become cast members in a major entertainment production. A casting director interviews applicants.
For hourly jobs, a casting director spends about ten minutes interviewing every applicant. The interviewer’s major objevtive is to evaluate the applicant’s ability to adapt to the firm’s very strong culture. Does the applicant understand and accept to fact that Disney has strict grooming requirements (no facial hair for men ,little makeup for women ) is the applicant willing to work on holidays even ones that almost everyone else will have off? After the first screening the remaining applicants are assessed as they interact with each other and judge as to how well they might fit with the how
Once people join the firm. they become cast member whose inputs and talents are highly valued by the walth Disney company.the company fills 60 to 80 percent of its managerial positions by promoting existing cast members. In additions the firm draws on suggested for help in hiring the 1500 to 2000 temporary employess requires during particularly busy periods easter, chirstmas and summers.
Every newly hired cast member participates in an orientation and training program at Disney university. Cast members first receive an overview of walt Disney company and learn about its traditions, history, achievements, and philosophy. They also learn about the key Disney product happiness and thir roles in helping to provide to learn more about the walt Disney company, visit the company home page at www.disney.com