The movie industry is one of the industries with the highest demands on innovation and creativity. Hence, creativity and innovation are vital for long term business success. Innovate or die, as Gary Hamel (2000) says. The case study ‘How Disney Keeps Ideas Coming’ describes how Disney - one of the most successful American movie companies – achieves a high amount of creativity and innovation. The following case report discusses Disney’s approaches for achieving creativity and innovation.
During the following case study report, I will first start with definitions of innovation and creativity. After that, I will compare Disney’s approaches with the identified approaches in the literature concerning creativity and innovation in organisations. At the end of the report, I will give a conclusion and summarise the main findings. I will not include a separate chapter about how I would encourage creativity in my organisation. This would depend mainly on the employees, the industry, the organisation, the company size and the business model of my organisation. Nevertheless, I will analyse and assess suitable methods for encouraging creativity and innovation in the text.

Excerpt

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

1. Introduction to the case
2. Literature review in the disciplines of innovation and creativity
3. Analysis of Disney's way of managing innovation and creativity
4. Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

The objective of this case study is to analyze how Disney, a highly successful movie company, manages to achieve a high level of creativity and innovation. The report examines Disney's approaches, comparing them to established theories on creativity and innovation within organizations.

Definitions and distinctions between innovation and creativity
Disney's management systems and leadership styles in fostering innovation
The role of organizational structure and hierarchy at Disney
The balance between creative freedom and the constraints of deadlines and budgets
The importance of timing in successful innovation

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

1. Introduction to the case: This introductory chapter sets the stage by highlighting the crucial role of innovation and creativity in the highly demanding movie industry. It establishes the context for the case study by emphasizing the importance of innovation for long-term business success, using Gary Hamel's "Innovate or die" as a guiding principle. The chapter outlines the structure of the report, promising to explore definitions of innovation and creativity, compare Disney's approaches with existing literature, and conclude with a summary of findings. It explicitly states that a separate section on encouraging creativity within a specific organization is omitted due to its heavy dependence on various organizational factors.

2. Definitions of innovation and creativity: This chapter delves into the conceptual foundations of innovation and creativity. It begins by referencing historical perspectives, citing Heraclitus's philosophy of constant change and Ecclesiastes's assertion that no idea is truly unique. The chapter then presents contemporary definitions of innovation (the introduction of useful new ideas, goods, services, and practices) and creativity (the ability to create, as defined by Princeton University; and a tool for developing innovation, as defined by Wikipedia). The chapter emphasizes the interconnectedness of creativity and innovation, arguing that creativity is a precursor to innovation. It positions creativity as the generation of ideas (like stories or myths for movies), which serve as the foundation for innovations (in this case, the movie itself).

3. Analysis of Disney's way of managing innovation and creativity: This chapter analyzes Disney's methods for managing innovation and creativity, focusing on two key areas: management systems & leadership, and organization and hierarchy. The analysis highlights the empowerment and autonomy granted to employees alongside the pressures of strict deadlines and budgets. This creates a tension point: while empowerment is crucial for creative work, pressure can hinder it. The chapter references Amabile, Hadley & Kramer (2002), who argue against the detrimental effects of tight deadlines on creative breakthroughs, contrasting it with Drucker's (1985) acknowledgment of the need for frameworks. It also introduces the importance of timing in the process of innovation, supported by Brown & Duguid's (2001) analysis of successful innovations, such as Microsoft Internet Explorer's timely market entry.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

Innovation, creativity, Disney, management, leadership, organization, deadlines, budgets, organizational structure, empowerment, movie industry, intellectual property, creative industries.

Disney Case Study: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the overall objective of this case study?

This case study analyzes how Disney, a highly successful movie company, manages to achieve high levels of creativity and innovation. It compares Disney's approaches to established theories on creativity and innovation within organizations.

What are the key themes explored in the case study?

The key themes include definitions and distinctions between innovation and creativity; Disney's management systems and leadership styles in fostering innovation; the role of organizational structure and hierarchy at Disney; the balance between creative freedom and the constraints of deadlines and budgets; and the importance of timing in successful innovation.

How does the case study define innovation and creativity?

The study provides contemporary definitions: Innovation is the introduction of useful new ideas, goods, services, and practices. Creativity is the ability to create (Princeton University definition) and a tool for developing innovation (Wikipedia definition). The study emphasizes their interconnectedness, with creativity as a precursor to innovation.

What are the chapter summaries?

Chapter 1: Introduction sets the context, highlighting the importance of innovation in the movie industry and outlining the report's structure. Chapter 2 explores the definitions of innovation and creativity. Chapter 3 analyzes Disney's management of innovation and creativity, focusing on management systems & leadership and organizational structure, including the tension between employee empowerment and the pressures of deadlines and budgets. The study also discusses the importance of timing in innovation.

How does Disney manage innovation and creativity according to the case study?

The case study analyzes Disney's approach by examining its management systems and leadership styles, and its organizational structure and hierarchy. It highlights the empowerment given to employees balanced against the pressures of strict deadlines and budgets. The importance of timing in successful innovation is also discussed, referencing relevant theories and examples.

What are the key takeaways regarding the balance between creative freedom and constraints at Disney?

The case study emphasizes the inherent tension between empowering employees for creative work and the constraints of deadlines and budgets. It references contrasting viewpoints on the impact of tight deadlines on creative breakthroughs, acknowledging the need for both freedom and frameworks.

What are the keywords associated with this case study?