The Netflix Culture & Mistake

Posted by on October 25, 2011 · Leave a Comment 

Netflix’s culture was described in a recent edition of the Business Insider. It makes an interesting read. At more than one hundred pages, it is quite long and detailed – but worthwhile. While it is described as a statement of its company culture, it is more of a guide and blueprint for its employees on how the company operates or, perhaps more accurately what is expected of its employees. Netflix’s culture document has three principal themes – Performance, Freedom, Responsibility... Read More

Filed under Best Companies to Work For, Books, CEOs, Peter Drucker, USA · Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mexico vs. China. Which is the Better Plant Location?

Posted by on October 14, 2011 · Leave a Comment 

The question of whether Mexico is a better place to manufacture a product versus China seems to come up frequently.  A recent Los Angeles Times article combined with my experiences in closing a USA plant and building a new plant in Shanghai are the sources for the following: Since 2000, the 3,700 Mexican Maquiladoras have declined to 3,200 with a loss of over 250,000 jobs.  Most have relocated to China.  These include operations of Hasbro, Sanyo Electric and Canon. One reason... Read More

Filed under Blog, China, Manufacturing, Mexico · Tagged with , , , ,

What Leads to Business Failure?

Posted by on October 14, 2011 · Leave a Comment 

Donald Keough’s book “The Ten Commandments for Business Failure”is an interesting, creditable book useful to Chief Executive Officers with a company culture that needs improvement. Donald Keough is the former President of The Coca-Cola Company. The book is a short, easy read that covers all the elements of a positive culture. Some of it is self-evident. But if officers, second and third tier managers all read it, it would contribute to a re-focused culture. It would put... Read More

Filed under Bankruptcies, Bankruptcy, Blog, Books, Business failure, CEOs, Chief Executive Officer, Leadership · Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Outsourcing from China – Avoiding this Horror Story

Posted by on October 12, 2011 · Leave a Comment 

A recent article in Manufacturing News described the outsourcing horror story that has engulfed Fellowes Inc. The large paper shredder manufacturer has suffered a significant loss in China. A Chinese joint venture partner stole Fellowes Inc.’s proprietary assets and forced the operation into bankruptcy. The estimated cost is valued at a $100 million. Now the former Chinese partner is planning on entering the shredder business independently, in direct competition using Fellowes’... Read More

Filed under Bankruptcy, Business failure, CEOs, China, India, Manufacturing, Mexico, Uncategorized, USA · Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

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Chief Executive Officer

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Reason I wrote my book “Learn to Whisper”

Click on this link for a more complete description of “Learn to Whisper”

The reason I wrote “Learn to Whisper”:

My conclusion after operating as a Turnaround Chief Executive Officer for more than twenty-five years is that the majority of this country’s top management is far from first-rate. In fact top management, particularly at the chief executive officer level, is at best average with a large number that can be rated mediocre. This lack of management competence has seen this country’s market leaders lose sizeable market share to foreign manufacturers able to export better quality and lower cost products to the USA. It has seen manufacturing and service operations unnecessarily moved to foreign countries. All of which has negatively affected the economy, severely damaged former blue-chip corporations and seen quality jobs lost.

It is quite common to discover that companies struggling with this inability to compete with foreign companies have been simply mismanaged. The once successful business deteriorated because of an incompetent chief executive officer and weak senior management

Why doesn’t this nation have first-rate management? Inadequate training. Chief executive officers and vice presidents learn “on the job”. A number get promoted based on personality, political connections and drive – not merit. They are not carefully screened for the potential to become successful at managing. For some all that is needed is a well-written resume, the right interviewing style and the inability of a new employer to accurately assess skills, performance and potential.

Compare this to the process doctors go through. From medical school to internship to residency to a senior role after years of education, experience and continuous training their progress and capabilities are constantly monitored even after they become senior in the profession. Generals and Admirals go through a similar protocol. They must prove themselves in low-level assignments before they are judged qualified for senior positions. Unqualified applicants in both professions are culled out. What can be done to improve management competence? Education, on-the-job training and job performance monitoring. My book will educate people on the subject of managing. Its 101 management lessons are separated into the 17 subjects managers need to know.