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Case
| HBS Case Collection
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2009
(Revised from original 2001 version)
Walt Disney Company, The: The Entertainment King
by
Michael G. Rukstad, David J. Collis and Tyrell Levine
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Abstract
The first ten pages of this case are comprised of the company's history, from 1923 to 2001. The Walt years are described, as is the company's decline after his death and its resurgence under Eisner. The last five pages are devoted to Eisner's strategic challenges in 2001: managing synergy, managing the brand, and managing creativity. Students are asked to think about the keys to Disney's mid-1980s turnaround, about the proper boundaries of the firm, and about what Disney's strategy should be beyond 2001.
Keywords: History;
Organizational Change and Adaptation;
Managerial Roles;
Creativity;
Boundaries;
Corporate Strategy;
Brands and Branding;
Entertainment and Recreation Industry;