Comments on: Fixing GM and the Big Three: What Would Steve Jobs Do? https://architosh.com/2008/11/fixing-gm-and-the-big-three-what-would-steve-jobs-do/ architosh™ — a global-leading CAD / 3D / AEC industry technology publication and #1 source for Mac and iOS users in these segments. Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:15:50 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 By: BodenseePeter » Blog Archive » Unsere Radreisen bei Tchibo https://architosh.com/2008/11/fixing-gm-and-the-big-three-what-would-steve-jobs-do/#comment-111 Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:15:50 +0000 https://architosh.com/?p=1134#comment-111 […] als ich plötzlich Reisen neuer Veranstalter in seinen Katalogen sah. Daruf flog ich postwendend in WWSJ-Manier nach Hamburg und kettete mich dort so lange bei Tchibo ans Treppengeländer, bis ich einen […]

]]> By: Anthony Frausto-Robledo https://architosh.com/2008/11/fixing-gm-and-the-big-three-what-would-steve-jobs-do/#comment-62 Thu, 11 Dec 2008 01:59:34 +0000 https://architosh.com/?p=1134#comment-62 Okay, I always get a kick out of folks making hay over an article that I published that got far fewer attention. It looks as though Robert X. Cringley of PBS.org got wind of my commentary above and wrote his own about Steve Jobs running one of the Big Three. Macworld.com has a summary here:
http://www.macworld.com/article/137455/2008/12/jobs_auto.html?lsrc=rss_main

But the main Cringley piece is here:
http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/2008/pulpit_20081207_005508.html

It’s an interesting read but the gist is do what Steve did to Apple in 97′ and GM would be fine. I simply refer to it as the Apple 2.0 Template. And for once I actually agree with Robert! It would likely work…but only if Steve was really doing it.

]]> By: Anthony Frausto-Robledo https://architosh.com/2008/11/fixing-gm-and-the-big-three-what-would-steve-jobs-do/#comment-45 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:04:51 +0000 https://architosh.com/?p=1134#comment-45 I haven’t seen the Brooke Shield ads for VW yet but I have put some thought into GM for well over two years. I actually think they should completely reconfigure their branding strategy to strategically align their car brands towards clarity of focus and meaning. Every brand needs both “direction” (the brand’s meaning says a lot about what they would likely do in the future) and “heritage.”

The brands that speak with clarity about “direction” and “heritage” are: Hummer, Cadillac, and Saab, in that order. Hummer is the most poignant brand but its brand direction points in the wrong direction when it comes to the environment. Cadillac’s “big luxury” message is similarly troubling on a lighter scale. Saab has a remarkable brand heritage that is, unfortunately, just completely lost on most Americans. However, they have the best brand direction when it comes to the environment.

If someone made me King of GM I would do something quite radical. I would great a Corvette brand and separate it from Chevy and align it with the premium group (Hummer, Cadi and Saab). I would keep Chevy and model it around Toyota and Honda.

GMC, Buick, Pontiac and Saturn would all be killed.

]]> By: terrin https://architosh.com/2008/11/fixing-gm-and-the-big-three-what-would-steve-jobs-do/#comment-44 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:46:39 +0000 https://architosh.com/?p=1134#comment-44 PS:

The big three are not asking to be bailed out any more then I was asking my mortgage company to bail me out when I took out a mortgage to buy my house or when I bought my car on credit. They are asking for a loan. The government makes interest on the loan, and has the added benefit of not having to pay all the employee government unemployment and social service benefits when people lose their jobs in the millions.

Good thing Ford, GM, and Chrysler didn’t tell the government to take a hike and build their own military equipment in World War II. Otherwise, we’d all being speaking German today.

]]> By: terrin https://architosh.com/2008/11/fixing-gm-and-the-big-three-what-would-steve-jobs-do/#comment-43 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:40:05 +0000 https://architosh.com/?p=1134#comment-43 I think Jobs would do four major things. First, focus on condensing the product line. All three companies have too many models. Many seem very similar with one another. The companies need to focus on a few things and do them well. Second, he would try to do away with car dealerships and bring this in house. Currently, the Big Three have to many dealerships, and they have to share profit with everyone of those independent dealers. That alone would go a long way to making the companies profitable. Third, Jobs would focus on design. Currently, it is hard to tell the difference between various cars because for the most part they all make cars that look the same. More importantly he’d focus on identifying shortcomings in the designs and correcting those. Fourth, he’d fix the boring bland commercials. The only thing I have seen remotely innovative in car ads are the newer Brooke Shield Volkswagen ads. You have to make American cars sexy again.

]]> By: terrin https://architosh.com/2008/11/fixing-gm-and-the-big-three-what-would-steve-jobs-do/#comment-60104 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:40:05 +0000 https://architosh.com/?p=1134#comment-60104 I think Jobs would do four major things. First, focus on condensing the product line. All three companies have too many models. Many seem very similar with one another. The companies need to focus on a few things and do them well. Second, he would try to do away with car dealerships and bring this in house. Currently, the Big Three have to many dealerships, and they have to share profit with everyone of those independent dealers. That alone would go a long way to making the companies profitable. Third, Jobs would focus on design. Currently, it is hard to tell the difference between various cars because for the most part they all make cars that look the same. More importantly he’d focus on identifying shortcomings in the designs and correcting those. Fourth, he’d fix the boring bland commercials. The only thing I have seen remotely innovative in car ads are the newer Brooke Shield Volkswagen ads. You have to make American cars sexy again.

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