Godtfred Kirk Christiansen

Godtfred Kirk Christiansen was the third son of LEGO founder Ole Kirk Christiansen and served as the company’s Managing Director for sixteen years from 1957 to 1973. He played a significant role in the growth and development of the toy company as the architect of the LEGO System in Play.

Born in the Danish town of Billund on July 8, 1920, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen was the third of carpenter Ole’s five sons. After the establishment of the toy-producing LEGO company in 1932, Godtfred was a frequent contributor; he assisted in the woodworking shop when not in school and often came up with ideas and designs for new toys. This continued until he returned from Haslev Technical College. In 1950, on his 30th birthday, Godtfred assumed the role of Junior Vice President, beginning his long and fruitful tenure at the company.

Godtfred Kirk Christiansen Essay Examples

► Lego: The History of Lego

To begin I will tell the history of Lego. Master carpenter Ole Kirk Kristiansen opens the doors of his business in 1932, in the village of Billund, Denmark. He made stepladders, ironing boards, stools and wooden toys. His son, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, started to work in the business at the age of 12.

► Analysis of LEGO

In the words of Ole Kirk Christiansen , the founder of LEGO, “only the best is enough.” And since then LEGO company have kept their promise by making sure they deliver toys of the best quality. The company has a tolerance of 2/1000 mm for its products. It is ensured that all employees are aware, through the EHS website, of the use of ISO 14001 as the company’s policy.

► Taking a Look at the LEGO Group

In 1932, Ole Kirk Kristiansen founded the LEGO Group. The name “LEGO” is inspired by the two words “leg godt” which means “play well” in Danish. Actually, since 1916, Ole Kirk Kristiansen has begun his business at his own carpentry workshop which manufactured furniture in Billund, Denmark. His workshop started producing small wooden toys in the 1920s. 

► Lego Company Case Study

The Lego Company was first started in 1916 in Denmark concentrating on building houses and furniture for all farmers. The Lego company found its niche in the year 1932 when the first wooden type building blocks were created. By that moment the Lego company had found the purpose in creating toys for small children.

► Legoland Case Study

Instead of choosing Petronas Twin Tower, Kinabalu Park or Melaka, tourists nowadays have a new and wonderful destination when coming to Malaysia that is **Legoland Malaysia Resort**. It covers an area of 30 hectares in the sea town north of Johor Bahru.

Godtfred Kirk Christiansen and the LEGO System of Play

Soon after assuming the role of Junior VP, Godtfred embarked on a trip with his wife, Edith Kirk Christiansen, to study and understand the toy market in Jutland, a Danish island. This gave him an idea of the way the toy retail market functioned and also became an opportunity to pitch LEGO’s products to a range of new customers. 

Two years later, in 1954, Godtfred attended a toy exhibition in Britain, where he met Troels Petersen—the purchasing manager for the Copenhagen department store Magasin du Nord. Petersen complained of a disorganized toy industry, inspiring Godtfred to devise the LEGO System of Play, which continues to be an important aspect of the LEGO Group’s declared purpose. 

The construction bricks LEGO produced were a classic of this new system. The LEGO System of Play required toys to be such that all their elements could be fitted to each other in a range of different ways. This ensured the longevity of the bricks, as those in sets purchased years earlier could be used in newer sets. The System transformed construction bricks into an affordable and flexible medium for expressive creation by children of all ages—both boys and girls—and even adults.

► History of LEGO Products

‘LEGO’ was taken from the Danish Phrase ‘leg godt’ which had the meaning “play well”. The LEGO group originated in 1932 in Billund, Denmark. The First member of LEGO was Kirk Kristiansen. Today, LEGO is in the possession of the grandchild of Kirk, Kjeld. LEGO started as a wooden toy company. Now, LEGO is famous for the LEGO Brick. It is the foundation of most of their products.

► Case Study of LEGO

The 26% decrease in sales revenue LEGO experienced last year illuminates faults in our current growth strategy. For LEGO to survive and once again flourish in this dynamic industry, we must together implement change. Before moving forward, we shall look at our past and present to identify problems, both externally and internally.

Godtfred Kirk Christiansen and the Modern LEGO Bricks

During its early years, LEGO primarily manufactured wooden toys. The company produced its first plastic product in 1949—a construction toy called the Automatic Binding Brick, which was based on a design by British toymaker Hilary Fisher Page. It was these blocks that were later renamed the Lego bricks.

However, for the first few years, sales were poor and there were several complaints about the toy. The bricks were thus redesigned in 1958 based on sketches drawn by Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, and the patent for this final version of the now famous LEGO bricks was obtained.

► Lego Social Responsibility

For many years there have been discussions about corporate social responsibility (CSR). It is evident that individuals have been concerned with the way businesses conduct themselves when it comes to CSR and ethics. Not only what they can do with their products and services but what they can give back to society.

► Toy Industry: Evolution of Bricks in Pop Culture

The hard edge bricks that fundamentally built the popular toy industry were created by a Danish master carpenter from Denmark. Ole Kirk Kristiansen purchased a workshop in the small town of Billund and began to build houses and furniture.

Godtfred Kirk Christiansen as LEGO’s Managing Director

Godtfred Kirk Christiansen took over as the LEGO Group’s Managing Director in 1957. Three years later, its woodworking factory burned down, prompting Godtfred to make the decision that the company should solely focus on the production of plastic toys. His brothers, Karl Georg and Gerhardt Kirk Christiansen—who had served as the technical directors of plastic production and wooden toy production respectively—disagreed with this proposal. They resigned and sold their shares of the company to Godtfred, making him its sole owner. 

By this time, LEGO had begun to expand out of Denmark, having set up its first subsidiary in Germany. It was also during Godtfred Kirk Christiansen’s tenure as Managing Director that the first Legoland was established in his hometown of Billund. 

By the time he resigned in 1973, the LEGO brand had been established throughout most of Europe and America. Godtfred was then appointed the Chairman of the Board of Directors, a position he held until 1993. 

His son, Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen became the CEO of LEGO in 1979 and served in the position until 2004. 

Less than a week after his 75th birthday, Godtfred Kirk Christiansen died on July 13, 1995.

► Lego Case Study

Our group’s research is on The Lego Group. Founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Christiansen, Lego is now an iconic brand internationally recognised for its production of Lego brand toys.

► Advertising and Promotion of Lego

Lego is a child’s plastic construction set for making mechanical models. The name comes from the combination of the Danish “leg godt”, which means to “play well.” The company believes that play is the essential ingredient in a child’s growth and development. It grows the human spirit.

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