From Spiegel Online. GM Management ‘Reminds One of Socialism’

Armin Schild: GM is going to continue pursuing company policies that have already led to the firm’s decline over the last 20 years.

Bill already called that.

Schild: The last 20 years have shown that GM managers pay more attention to profits than to the number of vehicles sold — and as such have paid less attention to developing innovative, more competitive products. Everyone could see the results of this strategy at Opel. They never fully took advantage of the know-how of their engineers nor did they use the brand’s technological potential. Instead, the focus on saving money ruined the brand — new models were only introduced once managers were certain that they would produce the maximum amount of profit. But that never really worked and it won’t work in the future. Since the bankruptcy, not a single new GM model has been introduced.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: In other words, you think the fault lies with the management of GM?

Schild: The problem has to do with the structures and the fundamental course charted by the bankrupt giant GM. The flow of information from one level of the hierarchy to the next reminds one of socialism, in which successes were claimed even as failure was evident to all.

If he makes that the last 40 years I’ll agree with it. He doesn’t mention how the Unions have helped GM into a well deserved grave. But then he is with the union.
Most of GMs “innovation” for the last forty years has been copying Ford, AMC, Chrysler, Toyota, BMW and Honda. That’s why the first year Vega was mistaken for a Pinto, why the GMC Suburban looks like an Explorer. It’s why the new Caddy’s look like Beemers and the new Camaro looks like a ‘04 Mustang. Oh and the Jimmy looks like a Bronco.

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