Michael Eisner Says That Micromanagement Is Key To Brand Quality

OK, first of all, I am not one of those people who bash Michael Eisner, even when I thought he made a terrible mistake by disbanding the animation unit. Even when he left Disney, I didn't join in to trample all over his "legacy". He clearly did a lot of good for the company by expanding it into its current considerable size and presence.

However, I think that he may be a bit "delusional" in this one.

Touting the virtues of micromanagement, the former head of The Walt Disney Co. said attention to every detail is the key to developing a successful brand.

For example, Michael Eisner, chief executive officer of Disney from 1984 to 2005, said that upon his insistence, Disney's line of cruise ships has shampoo bottles with big, easy-to-read print.

You can't use "anecdotal" examples and justify the validity of a whole philosophy. That is just illogical. One can easily counter this by pointing out that Bob Iger in fact has the opposite approach to this, and that he does not micromanage the company. Instead, he gives freedom for those in command to make their creative decision without his interference.

Iger calls it the Tom Murphy School of Management. "You put good people in jobs and give them room to run," he says. "You involve yourself in a responsible way, but not to the point where you are usurping their authority. I don't have the time or concentration--and you could argue maybe even the talent--to do that."

And how has the company done under this type of management since Eisner left? BRILLIANTLY, thankyouverymuch! So if I use the same logic as Eisner, I could easily say that NOT micromanaging is the key to the current Disney brand quality that WORKS!

Sometime I truly wonder how some people can come up with their conclusions....

Zz.