4LT GS RoadsterThe legendary Bob Lutz was an outspoken automotive industry mover and shaker, so his book "Car Guys versus Bean Counters" (Portfolio Penguin, $26.95) promises to be the place where he unloads much angst. Lutz doesn't disappoint.
Lutz said the American auto industry's plunge into bankruptcy was more down to tunnel vision from business school graduates than union greed. He beats on the media for favoring foreign cars over domestic ones and politicians for not having the guts to introduce a European style gas tax, and he lauds Volkswagen's leader Ferdinand Piech for his tough but successful management style.
Lutz is also justly proud of perhaps his last big decision before he ended his career at GM - forcing the revolutionary Chevrolet Volt past the doubters.
Lutz always divided the leaders of the automotive industry into the title of his book, and not surprisingly he considers himself a leading car guy, always fighting against the dreaded grey suited Bean Counter accountants who would put the bottom line before quality.
Lutz reckons that his experience is not just applicable to the automotive industry, but to business generally.
"Shoemakers should be run by shoe guys and software firms by software guys and supermarkets by supermarket guys. With the advice and support of their bean counters, absolutely, but with the final word going to those who live and breathe the customer experience. Passion and drive for excellence will win over the computer-like dispassionate, analysis-driven philosophy every time," Lutz said.
Perhaps surprisingly, Lutz doesn't blame union greed for the collapse into bankruptcy by GM and Chrysler. He calls union leaders honest, competent and well-intentioned, but said they were unable to hold back the rank and file who believed that the good times would last forever. It took bankruptcy for GM to finally prove the game was up.
www.detnews.com
Lutz said the American auto industry's plunge into bankruptcy was more down to tunnel vision from business school graduates than union greed. He beats on the media for favoring foreign cars over domestic ones and politicians for not having the guts to introduce a European style gas tax, and he lauds Volkswagen's leader Ferdinand Piech for his tough but successful management style.
Lutz is also justly proud of perhaps his last big decision before he ended his career at GM - forcing the revolutionary Chevrolet Volt past the doubters.
Lutz always divided the leaders of the automotive industry into the title of his book, and not surprisingly he considers himself a leading car guy, always fighting against the dreaded grey suited Bean Counter accountants who would put the bottom line before quality.
Lutz reckons that his experience is not just applicable to the automotive industry, but to business generally.
"Shoemakers should be run by shoe guys and software firms by software guys and supermarkets by supermarket guys. With the advice and support of their bean counters, absolutely, but with the final word going to those who live and breathe the customer experience. Passion and drive for excellence will win over the computer-like dispassionate, analysis-driven philosophy every time," Lutz said.
Perhaps surprisingly, Lutz doesn't blame union greed for the collapse into bankruptcy by GM and Chrysler. He calls union leaders honest, competent and well-intentioned, but said they were unable to hold back the rank and file who believed that the good times would last forever. It took bankruptcy for GM to finally prove the game was up.
www.detnews.com
