Broken Business Models: Sears & Kmart

Posted by on March 28, 2017 · Leave a Comment 

The NY Post’s article and others seem surprised that Sears Holdings may not be able to continue as a going concern. Clearly sale of its Craftsman brand was a signal that Sears was in serious financial straits. The acquisition of Sears and Kmart was completed ten years ago. But twenty years ago, before e-commerce became a major competitor, it was painfully obvious that Sears and Kmart were in serious trouble. Vendors selling to both companies at... Read More

Filed under Acquisitions, Bankruptcy, Broken Business Model, Business failure, Management · Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , ,

An Avoidable Manufacturing Failure?

Posted by on June 16, 2014 · Leave a Comment 

Google announced in May that it has decided to close its Motorola Moto X smartphone plant. The Texas plant has been in operation for one year. Its smartphones will be manufactured in China and Brazil. One goal for this plant was to “…challenge conventional wisdom that manufacturing in the U.S. is too expensive.” But unit quarterly sales were so low that economies of scale could not be realized. Keeping manufacturing operations in this country... Read More

Filed under An Avoidable Manufacturing Failure?, Apple Computer, Avoiding a Common Manufacturing Problem, Best Companies to Work For, Business failure, China, Leadership, Management, Manufacturing, Turnarounds, USA · Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

General Motors versus Toyota – who will win?

Posted by on August 7, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

General Motors just reported a 41% reduction in its second quarter Net Income to $1.5 billion with a $1.8 billion decrease in Sales. The main source of the GM decline was its European operations. Its future results are questionable as USA sales forecast predicts declines. Both of which are understandable in this difficult economic environment. But, Toyota reported a huge increase for the same time period. Its Net Income was $3.17 billion on robust... Read More

Filed under Bankruptcies, Bankruptcy, Business failure, GM, Manufacturing, The Big Three, Toyota · Tagged with , , , , ,

Is China’s decline permanent?

Posted by on August 3, 2012 · Leave a Comment 

News reports are replete with China’s struggles and decline. China’s past success is frequently labeled a “Bubble” with the question – Is it bursting? Yes, China is in decline. But not just due to negative Global economic struggles. China has entrenched problems that are contributing to its decline. Are these problems intractable? Following are significant but an incomplete list of its problems: ● Manufacturing processes and systems are... Read More

Filed under Business failure, China, Japan, Manufacturing, USA · 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... Read More

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

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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.