WHAT GGU CAN LEARN FROM GM

Friday Oct 23, 2009

One of my favorite Yogi Berra quotes is, "You can see a lot by watching."

I grew up in Motown and my dad worked for General Motors for more than 30 years. We were worried when there were strikes. We were pleased when there was overtime. Dad always provided for the family.

GM has learned some big lessons in the past 5 years that are not lost on colleges and universities.

Of the failures of 3 major GM auto lines, perhaps the biggest lesson comes from the shutdown of Saturn. That effort was to be different in several ways: cars built to order, a no-haggle price policy for dealers, labor and management were to be partners, and the focus was to be on customer service.

In retrospect, it seems obvious that GM should have taken these innovative ideas and applied them to its existing lines, rather than add a new one without adequate focus and financing. With too many GM brands, Saturn found itself competing for survival within GM as much as it was competing for customers.

Here at GGU we have always had an eye for the needed and new, but we also have excellent "models" already in existence.

We have the largest and one of the best taxation programs in the country. We have a national reputation in environmental law. But we have also blazed the trail in new programming and new methods of delivery.

Do you agree with that Saturn failed because GM had too many brands and was unable to differentiate or focus on the brand?

(Source: "Lessons from Saturn's Fall." USA Today. December 2, 2009)

Category: Economy

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SODA POP NOT BENIGN

Tuesday Oct 13, 2009

A recent article in USA TODAY reported that extreme obesity can shorten people's lives by 12 years. 2/3 of Americans are overweight or obese. According to the article, excess weight was responsible for the loss of 95 million years of life in the USA in 2008.

As a youngster I grew up in the great midwest.

You can guess my current age by the price of a Coca Cola or Pepsi at the time: 5 cents!

My parents thought that "soft drinks" were good for kids and the price was certainly right.

By the time I was 10, I drank at least one bottle a day. In the summer, when temperatures hit the 90's, I would guzzle 2 or 3 sixteen ounce bottles a day.

No one gave a thought to the number of massive sugar and calories I stashed away.

By the time I was 12, I was chubby and overweight. That lasted until I hit my growth spurt and changed my soda habits for milk.

Today study after study warns us about the horrible effects of obesity. It is the number one health concern in America.

We adults have the obligation to establish health habits in our kids. That includes what we drink or eat.

Soda pop has so much sugar it may as well labeled C,12 -H,22-,O,ll. One easy way to strike back against obesity: avoid giving sugary drinks to children.

Category: Miscellaneous

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