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Walt Disney Company’s corporate strategy
Prepared by:
Brent Dickerman,
Troy Wills,
Karl Turbenson,
Katie Johnson,
Greg Fleming
Metropolitan State University
MGMT 499-51: Case studies in Strategic Management
Jacqueline Presco– Meyers
July 17, 2014
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Table of contents
Corporate Strategy………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3
Corporate Strategy………………………………………………………………………………………………………………4
9-Cell business matrix………………………………………………………………………………………………………….5
9-Cell business matrix………………………………………………………………………………………………………….6
Strategic Fit…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………7
Strategic Fit…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………8
Financial & operating performance…………………………………………………………………………………….8
Financial & operating performance…………………………………………………………………………………….9
Financial & operating performance…………………………………………………………………………………..10
Financial & operating performance…………………………………………………………………………………..11
Improvements in shareholder value………………………………………………………………………………….11
Improvements in shareholder value………………………………………………………………………………….12
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..12
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The overall direction and scope of a corporation including the way in which its various
business operations work together in order to achieve specified goals is known as corporate
strategy. It is a vital business formula, which does not lend itself to a generic approach that can
be copied or tailored to ;t. Unlike any other company, Walt Disney’s corporate strategy is one of
the key components to its magical success. The ;ve main ingredients to Walt Disney’s corporate
strategy are leadership excellence, cast excellence, guest satisfaction, financial results, and
repeat business. The company has thrived o< of this formula for decades and still remains one
of the top family friendly places to visit.
According to the Disney Institute, the foundation to successful leaders is through
communication. In order to engage and foster within the collaborative company culture, its
leaders must encourage the creativity of his or her employees. The goal here is to create a safe
and comfortable environment for one another to share ideas. Leadership excellence is of main
importance in Disney’s chain of excellence, due to the fact that leaders are responsible for the
work environment. Overall success will lead to employee retention, employee satisfaction, and
more importantly a positive experience for its customers. One of the company’s main priorities
is employee satisfaction not customer satisfaction.
Disney has it’s own unique business language. Top management strongly believes that it
sets the right tone amongst those within the company. Instead of using the word employees
they are known as cast members and customers are referred to as guests. The jobs that
employees hold are called roles. These are intentional elements of the company culture. They
are meant to be well de;ned, clear to all, and ultimately goal oriented. Leaders are required to
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hire employees through a process known as selecting the culture. AAtude versus aptitude is
what leaders are looking for when seeking out future employees. Disney is highly known for
their strategic hiring methods.
Understanding their customer’s wants, needs, and emotions is a process that Disney uses is
known as guestology. Top management believes that having a deep understanding of these
elements can be-er the company’s unique quality standards. These elements have been very
