• No products in the cart.
  • No products in the cart.
Back To Top
Image Alt

GM

GM

What’s wrong with GM and what should be done about it? Is the industry even worth saving and who is responsible for this? Who has the strongest brand in the world, why, and what does that have to do with the GM situation? Listen to Alan rant on this podcast and find out.

[podcast]http://www.contrarianconsulting.com/wp-content/podcasts/GM.mp3[/podcast]

and now also on iTunes

Click Here for entire podcast series table of contents

© Alan Weiss 2008. All rights reserved.

Written by

Alan Weiss is a consultant, speaker, and author of over 60 books. His consulting firm, Summit Consulting Group, Inc., has attracted clients from over 500 leading organizations around the world.

Comments: 6

  • Elizabeth Gordon

    November 18, 2008

    I completely agree, Alan. It is useless and futile to artificially prop up an industry whose best years are behind it. The Big 3 automakers are going to fail, its inevitable. American taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize the complete incompetence of car manufacturers leadership and management. The free market should be allowed to work and these guys should fail, it is time. However, it increasingly appears that we will be made to provide life support, in which case, get everyone who is in charge out of there and make massive changes to the business. You can’t expect to go in a different direction if you keep following the same people, who continue to be rewarded despite their lack of performance.

  • Dallon Christensen

    November 19, 2008

    The American automakers have been a case study of mismanagement for over 30 years. I do not understand why the American taxpayer should pay for the sins of an industry that did not adequately plan for the high quality of Japanese cars (of course, it should have NEVER taken outside competitors to force the American automakers to think of quality as important) or for the inevitable backlash against carbon emissions.

    US Congressman Phil Hare (D-IL) said in today’s Quad-City Times, “If we don’t help (the so-called Big Three out), we’d go from recession to depression.” Of course, Hare comes from a district where the UAW still controls local politics, so Hare’s scare comments are typical of those that will eventually force passage of a ill-advised bailout.

    I’m sure that the restaurant industry will be next in line for a bailout if consumers continue to stay home and not eat out. Then what will Congress do? They have already set two precedents that are corroding the core of the greatest economic system in human history from the inside out.

  • Sam

    November 22, 2008

    “Genesis” had a song called “Land of Cunfusion” back in 1986. Aside from being an excellent song with brilliant video production and lyrics, it sends a very contemporary message. Land without accountability is the Land of Confusion.

    For those who are interested, music video is available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MzShg7yXik. If you cannot make out who the two animated characters are, she is Meggie Thatcher and he is Ronnie Reagan.

  • Amy Showalter

    November 25, 2008

    Bravo, bravo!

    Regarding the auto exec’s congressional testimony, many of my clients prepare their executives for such encounters with state and federal lawmakers. They are very aware of the importance of appearances and advise their leadership of various lawmaker sensitivities in that regard.

    The fact that the auto exec’s decided to use their corporate jets was yet another example of “tired ears.” I’m fairly certain that their government relations & PR staff advised them to play down any appearances of corporate excess.

    The exec’s didn’t listen to them, and it’s probably a small manifestation of a broader management style that is not attuned to what customers want, which got them in this mess, along with ghastly union negotiating “skills.”

Post a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.