RE Imagineering Disney and Pixar …
Via Business & Technology Reinvention this outstanding case of part maverick creative thinking, part case study of an informal “we’re getting blogged, wtf … danger case” and part case study for business (re-)vitalization when facing severe organizational obstacles.
A bunch of Disney and Pixar Imagineers have a blog called RE Imagineering. […]
RE imagineering’s site description says it all: “A forum for Pixar and Disney professionals to catalog past imagineering missteps and debate solutions in hopes that a new wave of creative management can restore some of the magic that has been missing from the parks for decades”.
One particularly interesting post on RE Imagineering is this one: “The Nature of the business“. Go and read it, yes, I know it’s long but it’s a worthy and interesting read for anyone in the business of innovation, or organizational culture for that matter …
I can only second David that something along these lines could be written about most organizations, but moreover it’s also an encouraging signal for Disney and Pixar: These employees at least aren’t content with the status quo at WDI and they are thinking about options for change and innovation.
Granted, sounding off on the internet is for sure against company policies (and has a bunch of negative side effects as well). Yet, this sort of whistleblowing by creative, good-willed and engaged people should be valued and understood much more. Trying to spur outside-in and open-innovation is cool, but you must master your internal channels for innovation (and communication channels like e.g. internal blogs or other social software as well, if only to hear the voices of these disgruntled staff members before they turn “public”) …
[…] all WDI employees seem so content as the folks of the digital-media department, but that’s another story …). This is an excellent description of how a wiki can be the information, collaboration, and […]