...The Walt Disney Company 1. According to the Harvard Business School case booklet, Disney started from the short cartoon industry into major industries such as licensing, distribution, movie, home video, merchandise, internet (Distribution channel), hotel and resort, sports restaurant (EPSN zones), cruise ship (Disney Magic Cruise 1998), theme park (1955 Anaheim, 1971 Orlando, 1976 Tokyo, 1992 Paris), and television network (ABC 1995). 2. Walt Disney Company pursues several different ways to diversify: -The first step Walt Disney Company took to diversify itself was when they started to license out their cartoon characters allowing merchandizer to sell Disney products. This was a horizontal diversification strategy as Walt Disney Company did not control these vendors besides collecting on licensing fee and a portion of the merchandize profits. -The second step Walt Disney Company took to diversify itself was when they Greenfield invested to form their own film and home video distribution company (Buena Vista). This was a vertical forward integration effectively cutting out the middle man costs. -The third step Walt Disney Company took to diversify itself was Greenfield invested into the theme park industry. The theme park was a vertical forward diversification strategy that provided a different output to promote their cartoons. -The fourth step Walt Disney Company took to diversify itself was when it Greenfield invested into the resort and hotel industry. The hotels...
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...Analyzing the Walt Disney Company Damian Diaz MGMT 5120 Managing Organizational Design and Change Section 001 10/11/14 Overview and History The Walt Disney Company (WDC), headquartered in Burbank, California, was founded on October 16, 1923 by Walt Disney and his brother Roy Disney. WDC has five business segments which include studio entertainment, parks and resorts, media networks, consumer products and interactive media (Company Overview). With approximately 175,000 employees and an annual revenue of 45 billion dollars, the Walt Disney Company is one of the biggest entertainment corporations in the world (Fiscal Year 2013 Annual Financial Report And Shareholder Letter). Mission Statement The Walt Disney Company is a leading international entertainment and media enterprise founded in U.S. It operates five separate Disney segments: Media Networks, Parks and Resorts, The Walt Disney Studios, Disney Consumer Products and Disney Interactive. Disney Media Networks is the most significant Walt Disney business segment. Disney products include television programs, books, magazines, musical recordings and movies (Mission statement of Walt Disney). Studio Entertainment From the early beginnings, the company established themselves as a leader in the American animation industry. The iconic Mickey Mouse cartoon debuted on November 18, 1928 titled Steamboat Willie, which also marked the first appearance of Minnie Mouse. In 1932, Disney signed an exclusive contract with Technicolor...
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...The Walt Disney Company is the world’s largest amusement park operator. It was founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Taking on its current name Disney in 1986. Chapter 1: Case – Disney Theme Park Contents I. Case Background 1 II. Statement of the Problem 3 III. Alternatives 3 IV. Recommended Solution 3 V. Answers to the case questions 4 Question No. 1: 4 Question No. 2: 4 Question No. 3: 5 Question No. 4: 5 VI. Leanings 5 I. Case Background The Walt Disney Company is the world’s largest amusement park operator. It was founded on October 16, 1923, by Walt and Roy Disney as the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio, Taking on its current name Disney in 1986. And Disney has 5 theme parks outside the USA; there are Tokyo Disneyland (1983), Tokyo DisneySea (2001), Disneyland Paris (1992), Hong Kong Disneyland (2005) and Walt Disney Studios (2002). Disney is motivated to set up parks throughout the world to expand its sales of merchandise goods as well as attendance to their theme parks. After lunched Hong Kong Disneyland in 2005, Disney has signed a letter of intent to build another park in Shanghai China in 2008; The Park will attract different potential visitors in Shanghai. Overview Disney Theme Park - Points of Interest (Michael Sandberg's Data Visualization Blog) Getting people excited about their data one visual at a time * Walt Disney had infinite confidence in his new park and unapologetically...
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...Literature Reviews “The Happiest Place on Earth” The Walt Disney Company is a leading international entertainment and media enterprise founded in U.S. It operates five separate Disney segments: Media Networks, Parks and Resorts, the Walt Disney Studios, Disney Consumer Products and Disney Interactive. Disney Media Networks is the most significant Walt Disney business segment. Disney’s products include television programs, books, magazines, musical recordings and movies. The Walt Disney Company is the world's largest media conglomerate, with assets encompassing movies, television, publishing, and theme parks. Walt Disney Studios produces films through imprints Walt Disney Pictures, Disney Animation, and Pixar. It also owns Marvel Entertainment and Lucas film, two extremely successful film producers. In addition, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts run its popular theme parks including Walt Disney World and Disneyland. 2.1 The meaning and Importance Marketing of Disney Company Disney Company’s goal is to be the most admired company in the world. They believe that they can achieve this goal by conducting their business and creating their products in an ethical manner, and by promoting the happiness and well-being of kids and families. 2.2 Principle of consumer analysis Walt Disney Company always makes surveys done yearly about consumer awareness of the brand. These measures help Disney to analyze which marketing strategy is working the best and which is not. Disney’s...
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...The Walt Disney Company Assignment 1: Assignment 1: Strategic Management And Strategic Competitiveness Professor: BUS 499: Business Administration Capstone April 20th, 2014 The Walt Disney Company The Walt Disney Company started in October 16, 1926. It was at the time known as The Disney Brothers Studio. It was established by Roy and Walt Disney. The company rapidly began to expand and introduced the world to Mickey and Minnie Mouse. They are the image of the Disney Company. During the 1940’s Disney issued its first stock, this made it growth as a company. The Disney Company expanded to the world of television and written entertainment with the opening of a theme park. Disneyland was opened on July 17, 1955. Walt dream was to open different theme parks in a big area. He chose Florida because of the nice weather; the inexpensive land; and the interstate 4. Unfortunate, Walt Disney, died on December 15, 1966. Despite the loss of Walt, Disney Company continued to grow. And in October of 1971, Walt Disney World Resort opened in Orlando, Florida. (Disney History) Globalization and technology changes have impacted The Walt Disney Company in positive way. According to Strategic Management, “globalization is the increasing economic interdependence among countries and their organizations as reflected in the flow of goods and services, financial capital and knowledge across country borders.” ( Hitt, Ireland & Hoskisson, 2013). Globalization also increases the amount...
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...Disney’s global expansion – An Asia Perspective Executive Summary Disney theme parks had a long history of aggressive market expansion, started first with their first Disneyland opened in Anaheim in July 1955, Disney World Florida 1971, Disney theme park in Tokyo in 1992, and Disneyland Paris in France (Tsai & Liu 2011). Since introduction of its first theme park, Disney has been attaining global profit through expanding their existing parks while entering the new territories. Their ventures into the new Asia market, HongKong, met great hurdles and challenges as there were gaps between Hong Kong Disneyland offer and the local customs that need to undergo urgent local adjustments in order to become accepted among the Chinese and Hong Kongers. Although major changes have addressed incompatibility issues which in turn provided Disney with high profits and competitive advantages, the park faced serious problems including the frequent overcrowded flow of customers, the lacks of creativity and innovation, or the overloaded staff. As HongKong Disneyland has proved fairly successful with increased park occupation and revenues from growth especially from mainland China sector (Matusitz 2011, Tsai & Liu 2011, Zhang 2007), an unexplored market segment in China or in particular the chosen Shanghai catched Disney’s full attention along with many favored factors such as supported environment with lower cost of labor and materials (PR 2011, Schmidt et al. 2007). The decision to expand the...
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...brand management, and creativity. Known as the king of entertainment and media, Disney has also been able to remain profitable for so long due to the company’s various strategies used to create value through diversification, expansion, and integration. Throughout Disney’s history, the company was always operated by key businesspeople that had a goal of maintaining the brand and remaining profitable as the largest multinational entertainment conglomerate in the world. Additionally, Walt and Roy Disney set the stage for future leaders of the company to achieve success through horizontal integration and geographic expansion. An example of horizontal integration would include the acquisition of Disney purchasing ABC for $19 billion in July 1995. This business investment allowed Disney to remain ahead of all other company’s in the market and continue dominating the strategic challenges faced by Eisner and all of Disney’s employees. The strategy of merging with ABC capitalized on Disney’s internal capabilities and created value by increasing diversification and differentiation among all brands and products that Disney owned. Moreover, Disney has been able to remain profitable over the years by investing in multiple company divisions including Walt Disney Studios, Disney-ABC TV, ESPN, Walt Disney Theme Parks and Resorts, and The Disney Channel on network television. Along with these divisions, the company has also continued to generate profits from Hollywood by releasing new animated...
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...STRAT Case Study “The Walt Disney Company: Its Diversification Strategy in 2012 LELE SONG February 9, 2015 February 9, 2015 KEY ISSUES * Understand why a company’s resources and capabilities are central to its strategic approach: Diversification is Disney’s main strategy for constant growth. The company is broadly diversified, including five major segments. Disney attempted to capture synergies existing between its business units. * Strengthening a company’s market position by expansion: Disney aims to expand globally and exploit the business opportunities in the emerging market since the domestic market is about to be saturated. * Become aware of what the company should do to achieve operating excellence: Instead of letting technology throw threats at the company, Disney decides to embrace technology to enhance quality of products and improve customer experience. Disney’s success is highly dependent on technology. * Become aware of the strategic benefits and risks of expanding a company’s horizontal scope through mergers and acquisitions: Disney has a very clear acquisition strategy, and they have successfully acquired some valuable brands. Acquisition also benefits Disney for global expansion. ANALYSIS The Walt Disney Company (“Disney” or “the company”) was a broadly diversified median and entertainment company. In 2012 the company’s business units were organized into five divisions, which include media networks, parks and resorts, studio entertainment...
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...under no circumstances should any part of this assignment be published, including on the Internet, or publicity displayed without receiving written permission from the school. Signature: Giuseppe Napoli Date: 16.11.2015 Executive Summary The Walt Disney is an American diversified multinational mass media and entertainment company, founded in Burbank, California in 1923 by two brothers Walt and Roy O. Disney. The companies success can be attributed to the ability exceed customer’s expectation and deliver magical moments to the audience. The main core value of the company can be identified in the cast members, who are considered the main bridge to deliver the company’s core values. As well to support cast members the company equipped the park with new technologies, the process not only reduce waiting time but also increase customer’s satisfaction. However the company initially face some globalization issues due to the lack of communication between corporate and regional offices. Walt Disney today in order to avoid culture clash has enabled local office globally distributes to compare and contrast the local customs and demands. The company in order to financial grow and reaming the leader in this...
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...Case 20: The Walt Disney Company Introduction The Walt Disney Co. is an enigma in these rough economic times for the sole purpose that they show minimal signs of slowing down. Mickey Mouse has his hands dipped into everything and from an investor’s standpoint that’s a good thing because that equals diversification, and in turn, diversification lowers risk. The Disney Company operates in several areas of the media and entertainment industry. They have recently acquired Pixar, which consistently provides box office record sales with their animated films. Along media entertainment lines, Disney also operates dominant media channels ABC and ESPN. These are two channels that carry with them a strong loyal following. Sports have always been America’s past time and it’s unlikely to see them ever declining or the viewership that goes along with it. People have always poured capital into sports and will continue to for many centuries to come. Aside from Disney’s ventures, investors focus and confidence should be in the trademark of Disney. Characters such as Mickey Mouse and Buzz Light-year are icons that will never be lost in the pages of time. Kids and adults alike will always want to participate in the next big thing the company has to offer and these kinds of expectations will always lead to Disney having a stable stock price and even unstable in the positive manner because the growth potential is limitless for this company. You can see that limitless with the many franchises...
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...resources. The Walt Disney Corporation is a nationwide multi-varied entertainment company which is a household name to millions of people throughout North America. Michael Eisner who is Disney's chairman and chief executive officer knows that his company will have to diversify in order to meet his targeted growth rateof 20%. Eisner wants to follow one of Walt Disney's famous quotes which is "We cannot hit a homerun with the bases loaded every time we go to the plate. We also know the only way we can even get to first base is by constantly going to bat and continuing to swing" In order for Disney to meet this 20% target Eisner knows he will need to look at new industries and overseas expansion to be successful. Since the Walt Disney Company is reaching a saturation point in domestic markets the corporation has recruited several notable executives and officers to fill its key management positions. Out of these positions only one of the ten corporate officers and three of the four group executives are Disney veterans. Eisner is hoping that with some new blood the company may generate new ideas to meet its corporate objectives which are: 1) to sustain Disney as the world's premier entertainment company; 2) to maximize shareholder wealth through a target annual growth rate of 20 percent and a 20 percent or greater return on stockholders equity; 3) to maintain the basic integrity of the Disney name and consumer franchise; and 4) to accomplish the above while preserving basic Disney values...
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...THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY Organizational Case Study Callie Unruh MGT6145 December 14, 2012 WALT DISNEY COMPANY It’s not just Disneyland! OUTLINE Introduction and Overview Internal Assessment External Assessment Strategy Implementation and Financing Conclusion MISSION AND VISION "The mission of The Walt Disney Company is to be one of the world's leading producers and providers of entertainment and information. Using our portfolio of brands to differentiate our content, services and consumer products, we seek to develop the most creative, innovative and profitable entertainment experiences and related products in the world." INTERNAL ASSESSMENT FINANCES Ratio 2008 2007 Current Ratio 1.0 0.99 Gross Profit Margin 0.20 0.19 Return on Stockholder Equity 1.36 1.52 Sales 7% 5% ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE Walt Disney Company Disney Consumer Products • • • • • • Disney Hard Lines Disney Soft Lines Disney Toys Disney Publishing Disney Press Disney Editions Studio Entertainment Walt Disney Pictures Miramax Films Buena Vista Home Entertainment • Buena Vista Theatrical Productions • Walt Disney Records • Buena Vista Records • Hollywood Records • Lyric Street Studios • Pixar Studios • • • Source: David, F (2011). Strategic Management. Parks and Resorts • • • • • • • Walt Disney World Disneyland Tokyo Disney Disneyland Paris Hong...
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...It was early 1991, and Michael Eisner, chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Company, was sitting down with Frank Wells, president and chief operating officer, and Gary Wilson, executive vice president and chief financial officer, to discuss Disney's prospects for the new year. These men were still basking in the glow generated by another record revenue- and profit-breaking year in Disney's history. Disney's businesses were performing at an unprecedented level, and confidence was high. The problem facing the trio who had engineered Disney's turnaround was how to maintain Disney's explosive growth rate and its return-on-investment goal of increasing earnings per share by 20 percent over any five-year period to achieve a 20 percent annual return on equity. Paradoxically, the very success of their strategy, which had originated to protect an underperforming Disney from the rampages of corporate raiders and the threat of takeover, was causing the opposite problem: how to maintain the company's explosive growth in a business environment where attractive opportunities for expansion were becoming increasingly scarce. The men were reflecting on how to develop a five-year plan that would cement the strategy that had led to their present enviable situation and make the 1990s the "Disney Decade." This case is intended to be used as a basis for class discussion rather than as an illustration of either effective or ineffective handling of the situation. This case was...
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...Andrew Meinsen GBA 490-901 Walt Disney Company discussion questions 1.) Walt Disney Company’s corporate strategy is centered on creating high quality family content, exploiting technological innovations to make entertainment experiences more memorable, and international expansion. Walt Disney Companies acquired Pixar and Marvel to enhance the resources and capabilities of its core animation business with the addition of new animation skills and characters. The acquisition of UTV in 2011 was executed for international expansion efforts into India and Russia. Disney’s corporate strategy also allocates substantial capital to its core theme parks and resorts business to sustain its advantage in the industry. Disney has started to integrate its highest grossing movies into its theme parks such as Pirates of The Caribbean and Cars 2 in attempt to capture synergies existing between its business units. 3.) My assessment of the competitive strengths of Walt Disney’s different business unit is that they have a strong competitive advantage of other companies in the same market. Disney’s strengths consist of: strong product portfolio, brand reputation, Competency in acquisitions, and diversified business. Disney’s ability to acquire technologically advanced companies and companies that complement Disney’s weakness in each individual unit and industry. Also the ability to integrate the different business units is a key strength for Disney. The Studio Entertainment unit shares major...
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...Walt Disney Case Analysis Corporate Strategy The Disney brand is extremely well known, but most may not realize how diversified the company actually is. The company is made up of media networks, theme parks and resorts, studio entertainment, consumer products, and interactive media. Walt Disney Company’s corporate strategy involves three aspects; creating high-quality family content, exploiting technological innovations to make entertainment experiences more memorable, and internal expansion. Disney wants the whole family to be involved. Much of their success is due to targeting not just children, but the entire family. The movies and shows they release are done with family in mind. Theme parks and resorts, Disney Cruises, live performances and interactive media are all aimed at creating high quality family content. Disney acquired Pixar, Marvel, and Playdom in order to satisfy their second corporate strategy. The acquisition of Marvel and Pixar was intended to enhance Disney’s animation abilities to make experiences more memorable. Playdom gave the company new online gaming capacities that Disney hoped would help to improve its struggling interactive media division. UTV was acquired to facilitate its international expansion efforts. Disney’s international expansion strategy mainly focused on opportunities in emerging overseas markets. As of 2012 The Disney Channel was available in more than 100 countries and reached 75 percent of viewers in China and Russia. This was...
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