Walt Disney Cos. Disney's Internal

Walt Disney Cos. Disney's internal organization is based around a handful of major divisions, each with a global scope. There a corporate umbrella organization that coordinates the support functions for the entire organization, including security, strategy and business development, real estate, communications and human resources. Underneath of the corporate umbrella, there are several different business units representing different areas of the Disney media empire. These include ESPN, Disney Consumer Products, Walt Disney Studios, Disney Interactive, Disney Media Networks, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and the Disney/ABC Television Group.

Subunits will reflect either smaller businesses or geographic subsidiaries. Adjacent to this basic organizational structure, Disney also have a number of strategic partnerships and joint ventures. These are also subject to considerable input from Disney head office, however, as the company sees control over internal operations as essential to its success. Each business unit has its own organizational culture and internal operations. Disney's overall ownership brings two things to the different groups. The first is that Disney provides the overarching support in the form of the functional units mentioned above.

This level of support is part of the Disney system that encourages standardization of inputs at the corporate level. All top managers are to fit within the Disney system rather than simply fitting with the system at their business unit. Disney also provides a high level of standardization at its business units as well, at the functional level. Strong management and a high level of internal control are important to the functioning of Disney businesses. A good example comes from Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL.

As with any resort, most of what the customer experiences in the direct result of actions that take place behind the scenes. There are strict controls governing the behavior of employees, for example they must always stay in character when it guest areas, and staff areas are kept well-hidden from guest areas.

The objective of this tight control is to ensure that the illusion of the Magic Kingdom is maintained -- it is destructive to the customer experience for a young child to see a man in a Donald Duck suit smoking a cigarette or going to the bathroom. Disney's other businesses are also subject to tight controls. The company relies on both specific job descriptions and on training as part of the control system.

Such control requires strong centralization and a significant level of managerial input over all aspects of the business. Thus Disney's internal processes are designed by management and enforcement of best practices is strict. The result is a seamless experience where customers can suspend their disbelief and enter a magic world. The Walt Disney Studios also takes a highly-controlled approach, even though its core businesses are creative. Disney focuses on market research to help guide its creative processes, so that the end product is carefully-controlled.

This high level of control allows the company to have output that is consistent with its mission and with its overall market strategy. For.