Only twice have I read writing by the inimitable Bill Gates, the first of which I have kept in my library, when William waxed poetic about the value of software in BYTE magazine lo many decades ago.
The second is here — will it have the same impact? I don’t know. I’ll give the man a benefit of the doubt and hope it does.
Two data points to ponder on the day of days to give thanks:
In other words, why call an extinct phone booth a Tardis?
More quotes from Frederiek Toney, Ford corporate VP, at the Distinguished Speaker Event on 21st November 2013:
Henry Ford built his company upon one belief: “Open the highways to all mankind.”
So, how to run a company like Ford on Earth today? Changing the approach to management methods: regional vs. multinational vs. global — the old fiefdoms vs. today’s centralised decisionmaking implemented in 2006 at headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, USA, realising at the same time that business is no longer U.S.-centric…
Trust and transparency supported by the business environment, changes of leadership — new CEO in 2006, Alan Mulally from Boeing, who chose to maximise the most from the existing executive team at Ford rather than replacing all of them.
Unchanging principles:
Improve the balance sheet — took $34B loan before economy collapsed, didn’t depend on government bailout — in 3Q ’13, 17th consecutive quarter of profitability, 14th consecutive quarter of positive cash flow
“Competing to leading…” — Four Pillars of Global Product Strategy: Quality, Green, Safe, Smart
Changed Ford’s organisational structure from silo-based fiefdoms to a matrix-based system, business units intersecting skill teams.
Recipe for Global Success
Two models — mass market (Ford) and luxury (Lincoln)
Consumer Experience Movement — customer taken care of by dealer who is taken care of by Ford
Lessons learned
Formula for success
What is the secret to effective leadership? Being a great delegator, knowing all the employees in your organisation are aligned to the same principles on which you base your delegation decisions, with diversity in thinking.
What makes Ford a great place to stay? Incumbent on company to attract, train and retain employees; in other words, if you see someone mistreated, you think it will be you next, too.
What happened to Ford’s famously bad relationship with suppliers/vendors? Went from worst to first in supplier trust/respect, rebooting the supply chain expectations and delivering upon them.
How do you increase Ford owner’s use of the Ford service department? Paying attention to the total value chain. New slogan: Bring your Ford “back home!. The old adage still applies: “Good service sells.”
My wife and I went to see a recently popular film at the cinema, the second in a planned sequence of releases related to a work of fiction. While watching the film and, after we left the theatre, we asked ourselves, “Is this really all there is? Bad acting and essentially a repeat of the first film?” Of course, all films are repetitious and essentially people pretending to be what/who they are not, always unconvincingly (especially if you are completely unwilling to suspend your disbelief).
That, and my lack of desire to memorise lyrics of new songs tell me I am happily ensconced in the cultural signposts and trappings of a particular youth of my generation’s decaying belief in one’s invincibility.
What’s next?
In 2007, I decided to retire from the working world on a fulltime basis. Or, that is, I decided to retire from a fulltime job.
Now is the time to return to the working world, as they (whoever they are) say, and get this economy rolling in its full equality thought set all over again for the very first time.
Yeah, the global economy revolves around me and I’m cool with it.
So, with all of that stuff in your thoughts, let’s get this party rolling again, the planet in balance again, and align your family’s/friends’ goals in line with mine.
Do I have to start my own business to get my business in your face?
Yeah, it looks that way.
I’m about to show you what it’s all about.
That’s just the way I operate, taking your barriers down and out for the count ’cause I don’t know what’s the matter with the walls you want me to maze my way through your amazement.
Know what I’m saying?
Doesn’t matter.
I’m here.
You’re there.
Time to get this ball rolling.
Start my own business.
Put my business in our bid’ness and make it profitable for your probability.
I want all seven-plus billion of you doin’ what I’m sayin’ not sayin’ what I’m sayin’, know what I’m sayin’?
treetrunkdings 