Dreamworks Animation 6w60w

DREAMWORKS ANIMATION SKG

• Started by Steven Spielberg, David Geffen, and Jeffrey Katzenberg in 1994 • 2000: DreamWorks Animation became its own division of DreamWorks • 2001: DreamWorks released Shrek, its biggest blockbuster to that point • 2004: DreamWorks Animation SKG became its own publiclytraded company

• Top 15 of Fortune Magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For

COMPANY HISTORY

DREAMWORKS’ DREAMS

• Management strategy: 1. Fostering spontaneous discussions 2. Encouraging risk-taking 3. Openly discussing mistakes 4. Sharing successes 5. Nurturing professional development • • • •

Incentives to reduce stress Providing a sense of security “Postmortems” Mid-project interviews

COMPANY CULTURE

• Great work environment • Works in small groups • Best animation equipment • Less reliable on advertising dollars (also a weakness) • Use of sequels & trilogies makes loyal consumers

STRENGTHS

• New company with less data & revenue records • No strong financial backing

• Only makes 2 movies per year • Swings in ticket sales and marketing • Use of sequels and only animated movies could cause limited audience • Lack of infrastructure to market and release films worldwide • High cost of movies ($150 million per movie)

WEAKNESSES

BRING THE DREAM BACK TO DREAMWORKS Improving Productivity While Fostering Creativity • Reassess DreamWorks Animation’s present management style • Need to evoke more creative, unique and original ideas for new films

• Employees too comfortable with many benefits • DreamWorks Animation’s mission statement: “the animation…should be as good as the talent within the company that creates it.”

HOW TO BRING BACK THE DREAM

“That’ll do, Donkey. That’ll do.”