Table of Contents
Introduction
The Walt Disney World is an entertainment firm situated in Orlando in the United States of America whose is to be the world’s number one in production and provision of both entertainment and information. According to Guan (2014), Walt Disney is also part of the Clean the World Programm Foundation that was registered under 501 (c)(3) of the IRS code in the United States. By use of the company’s portfolio and brand, The Walt Disney World seeks to develop one of the most innovative creative and profitable entertainment experiences that ever thrived on the face of the earth. In regard to the Walt Disney World, this essay is a discussion on corporate social responsibility.
The Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), has become critical for the survival of any firm in the modern business. People are no longer after buying products that are only of high quality. Rather products from firms that support or give back to one of the social ideas they support. Corporate Social Responsibility is a business approach applied by businesses to contribute to sustainable delivery off economic, social and environmental benefits for all stakeholders of organization (Heming & Starkey, 2017). Most of the companies practice Corporate Social Responsibility. However, the Walt Disney World is one of the leading, major and well-known organizations that practice Corporate Social Responsibility. Being the world’s number one firm in entertainment, Disney has a huge obligation to give back to those that helped it reach where it is today.
Current CSR Activities of the World Walt Disney
Regarding issues of the Corporate Social Responsibility, Disney lays emphasis on voluntary work, community and standards of labor. The Walt World Disney contributes to lots of charity work. For instance, during the Haiti earthquake in 2010, the Walt World Disney really gave a hand in rescue missions as well as providing some basic needs as food, shelter, and clothing to the affected demographic. In this missions they committed money amounting to 100,000$ in Humanitarian Aid (“The Walt Disney Company – A Leader In Corporate Social Responsibility”.). As a result of the good work, the Walt World Disney the Jane Goodall Global Leadership Awards. This award is normally presented to organizations that significantly better the world we live in by practicing ethical business practices.
The Walt Disney World heavily focuses on volunteerism. The organization gives out free tickets to people in exchange for voluntary service. Being a dream of almost every America to visit The Walt Disney World, the free tickets are an encouragement to them. They turn out in millions to offer voluntary services to their communities and the USA at large.
Besides Voluntary work, environmental sustainability is at the forefront of what the organization seeks to protect. Since time in memorial, the Walt Disney World has always focused on environmental issues. In the context to environmental issues, the goal of Disney is to benefit their guests, employees, and businesses while at the same time making an enabling environment for everybody through Consumer Social Responsibility efforts. The Walt World Disney has geared towards environmental education by featuring motion pictures and television programming. Among the world’s most remembered nature films of Disney are Earth, Oceans and African Cats in which approximately three million acres of trees were planted to save the threatened Brazil Forest, protected 40,000 acres of coral reef and conserved endangered 50000 savannas in Africa. Additionally, Earth Day was established in 1995 to support wildlife conservation across the world (The Walt Disney Company, 2018). In some of its motion pictures, characters are cast as animals and others as plants. Through the above activities, the Walt Disney World has continued to collaborate with the community through Corporate Social Responsibility. In addition to charitable giving, Disney World supports the local economy of Orlando through consumption of local goods and services.
Disney World Company has however been in the latest news lately for unethically laying off approximately two hundred and fifty employees so as to reorganize the company. This was also a restructuring program whereby 145 employees were to face the axe (‘’Walt-Disney-company-layoff-of 2015’’). The sole purpose was to save money for the organization. Viewing this action of cutting off technicians from an individualism theory standpoint, Disney did the right thing to make huge profits for the organization. However ethically that was wrong. Disney World did not follow the utilitarianism decision which takes into consideration the long-term happiness of employees. Generally, Disney did not follow the ethical procedure in laying off its workers. They cut them off without any notice and replaced them with the H-1B visa workers. They caused financial problems to the cut off employees and their families.
Internal and External Effects of New Plans
New CSR plans of the Walt Disney World will have several internal and external impacts on the organization. One the company will have a positive image. A company that has at heart ethical concerns for environmental standards and regulations is likely to maintain a positive image to both its stakeholders and the world at large. Essentially, this is what Disney has created in making sure that there is an inclusion of business standards as a key aspect in its business practices (Dimitrova & Petrova, 2016). It will also retain its customers. As stated earlier most customers consume products and services of a firm that support ideas that are meaningful to them.
An Idea for a New CSR Endeavor for Disney World
In the world we live in, school girls are at times faced with the problem of lack of sanitary towels. At times they have to skip school. I would suggest that the Walt Disney World be involved in issuing of sanitary towels as a charitable act and as a way of giving back to the community By so doing the organization will foster the world into supporting girls in achieving their educational goal and dreams.
We can do it today.
Conclusion
The Walt Disney World is an entertainment firm situated in Orlando in the United States of America whose is to be the world’s number one in production and provision of both entertainment and information. The company is involved in Corporate Social Responsibility. Corporate Social Responsibility is a business approach applied by businesses to contribute to sustainable delivery off economic, social and environmental benefits for all stakeholders of the organization. Regarding issues of the Corporate Social Responsibility, Disney World is currently involved in voluntary work, community, and standards of labor. Controversially Disney World Company has been in the latest news lately for unethically laying off approximately two hundred and fifty employees so as to reorganize the company. Generally, Disney did not follow the ethical procedure in laying off its workers. They cut them off without any notice and replaced them with the H-1B visa workers. They caused financial problems to the cut off employees and their families. New plans will have a positive outlook and customer retention impact on the company. I would propose a new CSR plan for the Walt Disney World to donate sanitary towels to needy school going, girls and women.
- “The Walt Disney Company – A Leader In Corporate Social Responsibility”. Businesschief.Com, “Walt-Disney-company-layoff-of 2015’’ A Case Study of Clean the World Business Model in Hong Kong.
- Dimitrova, S., & Petrova, E. (2016). Mission and Vision of the Organization and Their Relations
- Guan, Y. (2014). Adapting an American Non-Profit Model to an International For-Profit Model: Hemingway C.A., & Starkey 2017. A falling off the veils: turning points and momentous turning points in leadership and creation of CSR. Journal of Business Ethics 1-16 with Corporate Social Responsibility. Plovdiv/BULGARIA, 57.