[Rocket 88]

Originally Posted by Bravada

Four years on, the guy is still filling the same position. If you want to know why I believe Ford isn't really changing for the better, read the previous sentence again. And if you want to know why I believe Mullaly isn't really doing what is needed to straighten Ford's paths, reads the previous sentence again.

Let's see - the corporation lost focus by growing a board of 40-something Vice-Presidents and the like, over half of them actually responsible for the North American market, which isn't really a growth one nor does it represent more than half of Ford's sales, revenue or profits. All of them are mostly involved in corporate politics and infighting, and many seem not to really know what cars does the company make. Decision-making is hampered by the permament angst of angering the Ford family. North American operations are ridden by labour-related costs induced by unions convinced they are irreplaceable and fixed in place. The marvellous head designer and a team of engineers came up with a large car that is so forgettable nobody wants it, even if it is the most capable car in the market, effectively pushing Ford off the edge of one of the last markets they still had something to say in. Ford is making some of the world's best superminis in all shapes and sizes, some right by the border of the USA, but cannot bring any of them there amidst a booming market.

Answer: sell Jaguar.

Hello?

Yeah, thats a pretty spot on description of Ford. Sounds amazingly similar to how Lee Iacocca described the company in his book 20 years ago. Some things never change.