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This sounds like such a German corporate reaction - almost as if it were a caricature - "they didn't follow the process - how can we be responsible? we better d

This sounds like such a German corporate reaction - almost as if it were a caricature - "they didn't follow the process - how can we be responsible? we better double down on process." How about failing in building a corporate culture that rewards openness and learning from failure? This gives me very little hope for VW, and to an extent, for Germany. These top of the crop german execs just don't get it.

alayne 11y ago
Is the incident with GM's ignition switches that killed 100 people the kind of learning from failure we should shoot for?
- johansch 11y ago
  Please read this: http://www.governing.com/columns/smart-mgmt/col-culture-openness-candor-critical-organizational-success.html http://www.governing.com/columns/smart-mgmt/col-culture-open... "Creating a culture of openness and candor is critical to organizational success. It takes a strong, concerted effort by leaders." "How could this icon of U.S. industry allow the ignition-switch problem to fester for a decade without recalling the faulty vehicles and without notifying federal authorities (as required) and the public? The answer seems to lie in the company's culture. For decades, GM was plagued with warring fiefdoms, so it wasn't in one's interest to surface problems in front of your colleagues. And even when problems were brought to senior managers' attention, action was often impeded by poor communications between GM units. As crisis-management expert Gerry Meyers puts it, "In any big organization, there's an effort by lower-level management to insulate upper-level management. And the more layers there are, the less [likely] that a very serious matter can get to the top."
- johansch 11y ago
  And come to think of it.. WTF! Do you seriously believe that what is wrong with German auto makers is that they don't have enough process? Come on... reality check please.

alayne 11y ago

Is the incident with GM's ignition switches that killed 100 people the kind of learning from failure we should shoot for?

johansch 11y ago
Please read this: http://www.governing.com/columns/smart-mgmt/col-culture-openness-candor-critical-organizational-success.html http://www.governing.com/columns/smart-mgmt/col-culture-open... "Creating a culture of openness and candor is critical to organizational success. It takes a strong, concerted effort by leaders." "How could this icon of U.S. industry allow the ignition-switch problem to fester for a decade without recalling the faulty vehicles and without notifying federal authorities (as required) and the public? The answer seems to lie in the company's culture. For decades, GM was plagued with warring fiefdoms, so it wasn't in one's interest to surface problems in front of your colleagues. And even when problems were brought to senior managers' attention, action was often impeded by poor communications between GM units. As crisis-management expert Gerry Meyers puts it, "In any big organization, there's an effort by lower-level management to insulate upper-level management. And the more layers there are, the less [likely] that a very serious matter can get to the top."
johansch 11y ago
And come to think of it.. WTF! Do you seriously believe that what is wrong with German auto makers is that they don't have enough process? Come on... reality check please.