Running and especially transforming large companies is one of the difficult tasks for any CEO. I wish Mr. Zipse both success and luck (defined as preparation meets opportunity).
The automotive industry graveyard is littered with decaying remnants of ideas which tried to be all things to all people. GM is a stellar example with Saturn, Pontiac, and Oldsmobile.
To protect the innocent in a conversation (which actually happened) titled "how consumer life stages match the product line".
- Student: "they have a Corolla"
- Graduate / no kids / dating: "they have a Celica"
- Small family: "they have a Camry"
- Large family: "they have a Siena"
- Young son: "they have a RAV4"
- Older son who loves the desert: "they have a 4Runner"
- Daughter who's environmentally active: "they have a Prius"
- Children in college: "they have this thing called Lexus with many models to support different mid life crisis intensities"
- Expat assignment to an exotic country: "they have a Land Cruiser"
"We don't have this ..."
Very few companies have the operating patience and strategic vision to execute the above.
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