| The past few weeks have presented nothing
| |
| | relentless in the pursuit of economies,
|
| but bad news for the formerly world
| |
| | creativity and changing cumbersome
|
| leading American automobile industry.
| |
| | bureaucratic business cultures.Change is
|
| Henry Ford must be rolling over in his
| |
| | short-term pain. Managers will be
|
| tomb. Alfred Sloan, the architect of the
| |
| | significantly fewer. Blue-collar workers
|
| multi-division General Motors juggernaut,
| |
| | will not earn $65,000 plus per year for
|
| is a very sad "car guy" in the sky these
| |
| | unskilled labor in new jobs. Communities
|
| days. Plant closings, huge employee
| |
| | will undergo brisk changes in tax
|
| layoffs, lost market share and horrid
| |
| | revenues, real estate prices and shopping
|
| fiscal performance indicate that the "big
| |
| | patterns. College plans will be upset.
|
| three" (including Daimler-Chrysler) are
| |
| | Retirement dreams will be delayed, in
|
| in big trouble. They must change, and
| |
| | some cases destroyed. Parts suppliers
|
| change is not pleasant for huge business
| |
| | will be pressed on pricing. And yet, the
|
| complexes, or for employees, suppliers or
| |
| | future for all effected parties can, and
|
| customers.This brings to mind a change
| |
| | should, be bright.Since the Luddites in
|
| that occurred right before my eyes as a
| |
| | the mid-19th century attempted to stop
|
| small boy growing up in Kentucky. Several
| |
| | the industrial revolution and preserve
|
| times each week, a horse drawn ice wagon
| |
| | old-world work models, there have been
|
| would pull up in front of our little
| |
| | groups trying to thwart progress.
|
| house and deliver block ice. The iceman
| |
| | Progress requires change. Fortunately,
|
| was named Herb. My mother would always
| |
| | looking in the rear view mirror is not a
|
| pleasantly greet Herb and they would
| |
| | widely admired American trait. The
|
| exchange small talk, how about that the
| |
| | parties most effected by this sea change
|
| Reds game last night or the nice weather
| |
| | in the American auto business have
|
| we were enjoying. Herb was a hard working
| |
| | multiple opportunities to re-train,
|
| and very nice man. And then, one day this
| |
| | re-strategize, and start new businesses
|
| regular ritual in our lives abruptly
| |
| | and services. With normal American drive,
|
| ended.My parents bought a refrigerator.
| |
| | work and creativity our society will be
|
| The hand delivered block ice that was
| |
| | blessed with a new generation of wealth
|
| essential to keep the old icebox cool was
| |
| | creation, entrepreneurs and growth. It
|
| no longer needed. My mother was very
| |
| | has always been so.We live in a global
|
| concerned about the effect our new wonder
| |
| | market place. Nothing will change that.
|
| appliance would have on Herb. She met him
| |
| | If foreign auto companies make better
|
| in the yard and told him as gently as
| |
| | products at a better price we have to
|
| possible that his ice deliveries were no
| |
| | confront, and overcome, these market
|
| longer needed. Then she asked him if he
| |
| | realities. Americans always have in the
|
| would like some iced tea and to sit a
| |
| | past, and there is no reason not to
|
| minute.As clearly as I remember anything
| |
| | foresee a bright, but different future,
|
| in my youth, I remember that
| |
| | for every current participant involved in
|
| conversation. Herb knew the inevitable
| |
| | the radical restructuring of our formerly
|
| march of progress and technology; in this
| |
| | great auto business.The American economy
|
| case a 12 cubic foot Frigidaire, meant
| |
| | is the most dynamic in history.
|
| that he was soon to be looking for
| |
| | Opportunity abounds and is available to
|
| another line of work. It was sad. He was
| |
| | every citizen willing to compete in the
|
| very matter of fact and my mother tried
| |
| | marketplace of ideas, work hard and not
|
| to be encouraging. Over the next few
| |
| | look backwards. Ford, Chrysler and GM can
|
| months we saw Herb in the neighborhood
| |
| | survive and prosper. Nevertheless,
|
| less and less. Within six months the ice
| |
| | understanding and preparing for change
|
| Company was out of business.Accept Change
| |
| | will separate the successful from the
|
| or Get Run OverLike the barrel industry,
| |
| | losers, or modern day Luddites.Geoff
|
| the bicycle industry or dozens of other
| |
| | Ficke is President of Duquesa Marketing,
|
| formerly thriving business segments, the
| |
| | Inc. an international consulting firm
|
| ice delivery service, and now the
| |
| | with over 35 years experience in creating
|
| American automobile industry was forced
| |
| | customized strategies and business plans,
|
| to change business models. If change were
| |
| | product development and funding
|
| not embraced, indeed aggressively
| |
| | opportunities for entrepreneurs,
|
| pursued, industry subsets would be
| |
| | inventors and small business expansion.
|
| superceded by new upstarts and
| |
| | Mr. Ficke is also a Senior Fellow at the
|
| technologies. "The Big Three" still have
| |
| | Page Center for Entrepreneurial Study at
|
| an opportunity to adjust to new market
| |
| | the Business School, Miami University,
|
| realities, but they will have to be
| |
| | Oxford, Ohio.
|
