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Eric Lundquist

In Focus

Which techie should run General Motors?

5 comments

TAGS:ceo
IT TOPICS:Careers

Rich Wagoner, the GM man in full with 31-years at the battered giant, is on his way out of the General courtesy of the federal government. So, if the exec that grew up in the company can't make the big change needed, how about a techie? Let's take a look at the stack of resumes.

1. Steve Jobs. This one was making the rounds a couple of weeks ago. I don't think so, let's just say his strong point isn't as a consensus builder.

2. Sun's Jonathan Schwartz. In 2004, he suggested automakers should give cars away for free and make their money via subscription services like Internet access, etc. That turned out to be a whole lot better idea than building cars no one wanted. I'm not sure Detroit is ready for the ponytail.

3. Scott McNealy. He hasn't been raising too much of a ruckus since he stepped away from day to day at Sun. But, he has a Detroit background and once played golf with Lee Iacocca. I'm thinking he would do a good job. I'm thinking you wouldn't see too many Microsoft systems in Detroit.

4. Larry Ellison. He know a lot about fast cars, fast boats, fast planes and big databases. I can't see him negotiating with the UAW.

5. S. Ramadorai. You are probably saying, "Who is he?" He is the CEO of Tata Consultancy Services. Now Tata, under the big boss Ratan Tata, has come up with an (approximately) $2,500 car in India. Now that would be a game changer in the U.S.

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Wagoner's success?

Submitted by Anonymous on April 2, 2009 - 1:15 A.M.

What has Mr. Wagoner done for US? Good Question! Simple Answer!

H U M M E R

No, that's not a sexual position. But it might just kill you.

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GM President

Submitted by Anonymous on March 31, 2009 - 7:19 A.M.

This obviously was supposed to be funny. It is sad that a group of statists have determined that although they have never run any business, not even an ACORN corner store, that they know enough to throw GM's President out. They aren't smart enough to know that Chapter 11 may be the only way to save some of GM. It isn't some Federal government fascists who will turn GM around. It will be someone who can build cars that Americans can afford and, like the Japanese model, have a reputation of being safe, frugal and reliable.

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GM President Was Incompetent

Submitted by Anonymous on March 31, 2009 - 7:30 P.M.

"they know enough to throw GM's President out."

GM's Rick Wagoner proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is grossly incompetent.

Even before the latest crisis:

GM's market share was going straight down, because GM failed to give customers what they wanted.

GM had the extreme expenses of way too many brands.

And of course, GM assumed that gas would be cheap forever.

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who should run GM?

Submitted by ChuckL on March 30, 2009 - 6:35 P.M.

Not a techie. This business needs a good business manager. Unfortunately, it now has an Obama team member running it. It is time to FEAR.

The problems that GM ran into were caused by the Federal Government ignoring reality in the needs of our citizens with their safety and economy regulations. If you don't understand, then try to put three child safety seats into the back seat of a Prius. If our government had at least accepted European safety standards as also suitable for sale in this country, the whole auto fiasco might have been avoided.

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