Disney Channel Reviews

Pros

In the shrinking world of broadcast and cable television, Disney Channel is one of the few participants in excellent financial heatlh. The company is not going away. On the contrary, it is expanding, which provides increasing opportunities for product, marketing, etc. In addition, Disney Channel has fewer levels of bureaucracy compared to similar cable and broadcast outlets. It is the leader in its field, the 800-pound gorilla in the marketplace.

Cons

The company, in general, puts out a substandard product. It is difficult to be proud of the work. While very successful financially, Disney Channel is well known as an outlet for entertainment "junk food." Upper management seems to have little training in personnel relations. Treatment is often inconsistent and insulting. The overriding "Disney brand" is protected to the exclusion of creativity, communication, innovation, etc. Executives are in constant fear for their positions, creating a "safest solution" mentality. While part of a giant corporation, Disney Channel behaves as if it is constantly on the verge of bankruptcy. This translates into a pennywise and pound-foolish strategy, including financial mistreatment of workers in terms of benefits, salary, etc. The corporate face of warmth and family-friendliness is the opposite of the actual corporate culture. Executives pass judgment in areas for which they have no training or experience. Creative executives generally come out of a marketing or advertising background, toxic to the type of innovation that might produce growth in the company on a geometric scale, as can be found in a company such as Pixar before it became part of Disney.

Advice to Senior Management

Trust your subordinates to do their jobs. Delegate responsibility without then taking it back. Avoid micromanagement. Consider training in "people relations" to avoid constant barrage of criticism and a dearth of praise. Solicit ideas that do not necessarily fit into the tried-and-true corporate template. Reward good work. Do not participate in areas in which you do not have direct experience or training; rather, hire people who are expert in these areas, take their advice, then make an executive decision based on this input and your own instinct. Be nice. Avoid verbal cruelty in the workplace. Communicate specific expectations with realistic deadlines, then hold yourself to them as well as your workers. Try to create an atmosphere that encourages workers to produce, not dread coming to the office. Promote understanding and listening versus fear and dictation.