Innovation Project Management, 2nd Edition

CASE STUDIES

DISNEY (A): INNOVATION PROJECT MANAGEMENT SKILLS AT DISNEY

Synopsis

All Disney’s theme parks and the attractions within the parks can be viewed as innovation in action. Part of Disney’s success can be attributed to the Imagineers that understand the skills they must possess to work in this type of innovation environment. The culture at Disney is truly an innovation culture.

Introduction

Not all project managers are happy with their jobs, and they often believe that changing industries might help. Some have delusions about wanting to manage the world’s greatest construction projects, while others want to design the next generation cell phone or mobile device. However, the project managers that are probably the happiest are the Imagineering project managers that work for the Walt Disney Company even though they could possibly earn higher salaries elsewhere on projects that have profit and loss statements. Three of their Imagineering project managers (John Hench, Claude Coats, and Martin Sklar) retired with a combined 172 years of Imagineering project management work experience with the Walt Disney Company. But how many project managers in other industries truly understand what skills are needed to be successful as an Imagineering project manager? Is it possible that many of the Imagineering project management skills, which are core innovation skills, are applicable ...