Eurolutz

Bob Lutz checks in today with a follow-up on ideas he introduced months ago.

Last October, Lutz outlined a plan to globalize GM's product development efforts. He described a re-organized design group that would coordinate their work across brands.

He's bullish (surprised?) in his update.

I’m proud of the evolution of our design staff, and indeed our entire global product development organization. And now, as we run the business on a global basis, having all of our GME [General Motors Europe] Design teams — Opel, Vauxhall, Saab and Advanced Design – together in one facility, is a great step forward.

Later, he says this:

The designers that work in our new facility will contribute to all of GM’s brands. In fact, the cross-pollination is already under way. GME designers have visited North America to demonstrate the interior precision that has become an Opel hallmark. And GMNA designers have shown their European counterparts how to dial in more sizzle and glamour into their own interiors. That’s the way the whole company should and will work.

So what?

Well, TrueTalk Blog readers will remember that I'm interested in Lutz's blog for two reasons. First, he's a master designer. Second, he's leading a huge corporate turnaround. Put those two together, and I'm all ears. Today, he's working on the second agenda by talking about the first.

Leading a turnaround means speaking to many constituencies simultaneously. This post lets everyone inside the company know that he was serious about this cross-brand, cross-business unit, cross-geographical (you should pardon the word), "synergy," and has just opened a new facility in Germany where he'll be putting the model through its paces.

Transformation. Tough work, but fun if you have the stomach for it.

Tags: GM Fastlane Blog Bob Lutz

Comments

[fouro]

Transformation or the Bomb Squad. Shared DNA.

Sounds promising--off to read up, thanks for the pointer, Tom

[Tom Guarriello]

Just a switch of an A or a T or a C or a G here or there makes all the difference, 0. "Blow it up, start from scratch" is still one of the most effective transformation strategies I've ever seen...takes beaucoup guts, though.

You know, if one perseverated a bit, one would change your name into a "page not found" message...4-0--4; 4-0--4