General Motors – “Although change is happening, it is happening using the same OLD rules.”

Pros

General Motors has been making huge strides in quality, product and service. The face that the public sees via the media is extremely one-sided. Rick Wagoner had been doing a great job bringing the corp. around, and for the past 5 years at least, the plan was working. Fritz will continue to do the same, since the plan was working before the whole banking debacle brought down the house of cards that is the US economy. GM allowed me to be creative and provide the support in my department that let me best represent my product. I was proud to have been a part of the come-back of GM.

Cons

General Motors has had to recently downsize the company to reach budget numbers supplied by others (read: cut cost fast or receive no more $$$ from government). This has resulted in a helter-skelter approach to headcount reduction. "Zero-based" staffing, yeah, right! It turned out to be a bloodbath, with many of the "protected" individuals remaining and very talented people being cut. GM will be leaner, but how will it affect the quality of the product being developed and delivered? I believe there will not be enough people remaining to do an effective job, but they will still be able to receive govt. money because they "reached their numbers".

The stress level prior to being let go by GM was intolerable. People were suffering from stress-induced illnesses, taking time off, and under the threat of being let go at any time. The executive level toed the corporate line when providing information, but of course, it was what they wanted the employees to hear, and "subject to change at any time", as best suited their needs.

Advice to Senior Management

Too late for me, but look a little closer at the people you are getting rid of because you "have to". I have been in touch with others who were severed from the company (NOT laid off, as the media repeatedly reports - I have no opportunity to return when things look up) as well as people who remain, and there are a multitude of managers and directors who have been ineffective for years, abusive towards their employees (and reported and either moved or it has been brushed under the rug), and they are still being protected and remain in their jobs.