Hong Kong Disneyland: The Moment Big Business Encounters Feng Shui, Numerology, And Superstition (Essay Sample)

HONG KONG DISNEYLAND: THE MOMENT BIG BUSINESS ENCOUNTERS FENG SHUI, NUMEROLOGY, AND SUPERSTITION
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Discourse the aspects of culture that have been considered in the case study.
Part of the aspects of culture that has been dealt with in the case study is language (Andreatta & Ferraro, 2013). In the expansion of Disney into Paris, France, issues concerning language, consumption of alcohol, and the cost of tickets and goods spoiled the Disney brand. In China, Disney has employed employees who understand the local two languages (Cantonese and Mandarin) well, as well as English.
Another element of culture that was taken into account in the case study is symbols (Bhui, 2012). In China, Disney’s theme park has no fourth floor considering that the number ‘four’ sounds similar to the term ‘death’ in Mandarin and Cantonese, and is perceived as unlucky. Instead, the digits ‘888’ is applied in the principal ballroom of part of the hotels. Moreover, there exist 2238 crystal lotuses that fashion part of the eateries in the park. The moment one utters the figure 2238 in Cantonese, the sound significantly echoes the Chinese phrase for ‘easily acquiring wealth’. Disney employed Feng shui to establish Mickey’s fresh kingdom in Hong Kong in 2005. The color red owing to its symbolic representation of prosperity is also seen across the park (Spielberger, 2004). Hats in the color green are not sold anywhere in the part because they resemble a man who’s partner is guilty of adultery. Clocks are not sold because they are considered bad omen; that one will attend a funeral.
The element of culture, norm, has also been employed in the case study (Lee, 2009). Several Chinese delicacies are in plenty across the park. In fact, they are the dominant foods in the park.
What lesson did Disney acquire from its errors in Paris?
From the errors in Paris, Disney came to the realization that it is vital for an enterprise to consider the norms, culture and the way of life of the local inhabitants of a new region when it intends to expand its business to that location. In Paris, France Disney was impeached of neglecting the French culture and damned for introducing the American foreign policy in its European embark. The problems concerning alcohol consumption, language, and the value of tickets spoiled the Disney brand in this region. Disney learned from this error and chose to consider getting rid of the prohibition of alcohol principle in the theme park, decreasing the corporate premium on merchandise, admission, food and hotels, loosening Disney’s hierarchical management framework, and decreasing managerial staff by nearly 1000 so as to empower employees and flatten management.
How did Disney appreciate the Chinese culture with its Hong Kong venture?
Part of the means Disney embraced the Chinese culture with its Hong Kong embark was by taking into account the Chinese feng shui principle (Pan, 2012). Feng shui principles were incorporated in the orientation, positioning and style of the park. Feng shui exercises at Hong Kong Disneyland are dominant. The principal entrance gate of the theme park was moved 12 degrees to optimize good energy flow. Custom incense burning was habitual upon the finishing of each building. Boulders were placed across the park to symbolize st...