BRIARCLIFF MANOR, N.Y., March 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Academy of Management, the largest global association devoted to management and organization research, published a new study that found an overwhelming number of animated Disney movies portray managers, leaders and everyday work life in a negative fashion. The authors believe the influence of Disney films likely shapes the way children view the working world long before they enter the workforce.
The study published by the Academy of Management Learning & Education, "Organizational Readiness: Culturally Mediated Learning through Disney Animation," was written by professors Martyn Griffin of Leeds University, Mark Learmonth of Durham University and Nick Piper of Leeds University. Drawing from the findings, the coauthors conclude Disney animations are likely to significantly shape children's learning about organizations. An overwhelming number of the films carried several negative workplace-related themes. These themes can drive young employees, especially in their first jobs, to have negative ideas about the workplace.
The authors analyzed 56 feature-length animated films, from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" in 1937 to "Moana" in 2016. They then identified which workplace-related themes were portrayed by each film. The themes included:
"Our research suggests one of the most powerful cultural influences in western society, Disney animated films, have created negative views about workplace managers among generations of children for nearly 80 years," said Griffin. "While common knowledge might suggest new entrants to the workforce are blank slates ready to be molded by their organizations, our research shows managers and organizations will need to take into account the ideas about organizational life that began as soon as they were old enough to watch their first Disney movie."
The research can be found in the March issue of the Academy of Management Learning & Education.
Media can request copies of the research and interviews with the authors at [email protected].
About Academy of Management
Academy of Management is the most well-established and largest global association devoted to management and organization research, with 20,000 members from more than 120 countries across six continents. The Academy publishes six top-rated journals with the most authoritative and diverse management research findings. For more information, visit www.aom.org.
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SOURCE Academy of Management
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