Introducing: Unique Corporate Cultures by Scared of Clowns




By: Lindsay Miller
Welcome to the Scared of Clowns blog. Do not let the name fool you; clowns, although terrifying, will not form the basis of this blog. We are Brendan Fox, Do Sung, Michael Attridge, Lily Nie, and Lindsay Miller reporting from the perspective of Organizational Behavior concepts. Please continue reading to discover the fresh insight we will provide on Unique Corporate Cultures that have sprung up across the nation.

In business today, Corporate Culture is not only a Buzz word, it is becoming a competitive advantage. As processes are streamlined and technology advances, the way to pull away from competition is through a solid, talent-development program. In other words, who companies hire to work and represent them. So how do companies attract and retain such talent? Competitive salaries and benefits are always helpful, but currently the Millenial generation is asking for more. More Social Responsibility. More Social Scenes. More Work/Life Balance. More Diversity of Task. More Sustainability Efforts. Many of these factors also work to gain the trust and the business of customers seeking similar initiatives, but the bottom line is that both consumer and employee are looking at the not-so-simple, somewhat intangible concept of Culture.

Team Scared of Clowns will take you through a series of companies that are particularly unique in the way that they manifest their culture: from jungle-themed office space to paid volunteer time-off to functional interest squads and beyond. Follow along as we take you through the by-product of a changing world where companies are no longer just marketing their products, but their identities as well.

Friday, April 29, 2011

PDA Analysis: DreamWorks Animation SKG

As we wind down our blogs, it has been enlightening learning about various facets of organizations and the ways they interact. Through our research, we were able to touch on numerous companies that successfully executed some of the Organizational Behavior techniques to create successful businesses that not only deliver strong value to their shareholders, but also create strong corporate cultures. In our Positive Deviance Analysis, we believe that DreamWorks Animation SKG is one of the most exemplary companies within its culture, and its ability to create trust among its employees.


DreamWorks Animation SKG delivers "high-quality family entertainment through the use of computer-generated animation." But in order to create these high-quality films, it is necessary to be innovative in every aspect of a movie to make it compelling enough to attract viewers. In order to motivate its employees, management is responsible for fostering that innovation by creating a hospitable atmosphere. With 325,000 square feet of luxurious studios, infused with koi ponds and game rooms, the employees are set up to enjoy themselves. Even holding movie nights of some of its successful releases, employees barely seem to be working. By enabling employees to relax and enjoy their workplace, DreamWorks develops trust within its employees.


As an example, the CEO of DreamWorks, Jeffrey Katzenberg was known as a demanding, hard-nosed executive when he spent his time with Disney overseeing operations. When he arrived at DreamWorks, he was ill-equipped on some managerial tactics, such as making his employees happy, and quickly learned the importance of it. In recent interactions with the director of Kung Fu Panda 2, Jennifer Yuh Nelson, Katzenberg goes out of his way to ask about employee satisfaction, and provides Nelson with confidence by positively reinforcing her decisions. Having the CEO champion the actions and decisions of the company provides the employees with a mentality that management truly cares about the output of work, and creates an excellent environment for success.


Finally, DreamWorks implemented a program called "Life's a Pitch," in which each employee is charged with contributing towards the firm's productions. Employees ranging from accountants to engineers are tasked to come together and pitch their own ideas in a collaborative setting to utilize their creativity and be a part of the films that they make. Through these workshops, DreamWorks takes advantage of the strong culture to implement cross-functionalism and a better distribution of ideas.


By succeeding in these aspects within its culture, we believe that DreamWorks is a positively deviant company that enforces success through happy, motivated employees. By having the CEO champion this value and enabling an atmosphere where employees can be happy, DreamWorks fosters a strong culture that is almost unrivaled. Through the usage of group dynamics, teamwork, and trust, DreamWorks is a model company for any individual wishing to study how to best build a cooperative team in a stressful industry.
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