Abstract

This case is about the unique organization culture at Pixar Animation Studio (Pixar). Many analysts attributed Pixar’s success to its unique culture marked by an informal approach toward work and its Human Resource (HR) policies that built a motivated and loyal employee base. The case highlights the company’s hands-off management style coupled with an craftsman-like nurturing of the creative process, which helped it become a benchmark against which the rest of the industry measured itself. The case also discusses the cultural and HR management implications to Pixar as a result of it having being acquired by The Walt Disney Company.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Understand the techniques adopted Pixar in creating and maintaining its unique organization culture Understand the cultural and HR management implications to a company in the event of it being acquired by a larger entity.

Keywords

Pixar Animation Studios, The Walt Disney Company, Organizational culture, Technology and Innovation, John Lasseter, Pixar University, Human Resource Management, Computer Generated Imagery, CGI, Hollywood Model, Employee Training, Stress Management, Ergonomics, Creativity, Steve Jobs, Apple Computers Inc.