POLL RESULTS: Leadership isn't Ford's biggest problem
Our latest poll shows that the majority of you (51%, that's a mandate right?) believe that the CEO isn't the problem over at Ford Motor Company. However, Mr. Mulally should take heart in the fact that 30% of you believe he seems like the right fit for the job. Rounding out the pack were the 14% of you who thinks Ghosn should be cutting and slashing Ford back to profitability, while a scant 5% of you believe Bill Ford Jr. could've turned the company around given a little more time.It is true, Ford's problem has little do with its CEO, but at the same time Bill Ford recognized that perhaps there were people in this world more qualified than he to reverse the sagging fortunes of the third largest automaker in the world. That has to be a humbling call to make, but it's been the boldest move yet for the Blue Oval.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
len simpson 1:58PM (9/07/2006)
any company that pays an employee not to work will always be in trouble
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Fordman 2:03PM (9/07/2006)
As I have said, ford needs to invest in products. All this CEO and Way Forward changes amounts to nothing but killing time. No excuse to let the Taurus, once americas best to simply die. Where is the ranger redesign the last 22 years? Why cant ford make a decent minivan? Why did they spend so much money on the stupid GT that has had numerous recalls? Without Mazda and Volvo giving them handouts in Escape, fusion, montego, fivehundred, tribute, focus, edge, and milan, they would be worse.A company that only cares about the mustang and F-150 should not have so many vehicles that they neglect. And this has nothing to do with healthcare.
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Big Al 2:01PM (9/07/2006)
If the CEO isn't the problem, I guess we'll find out soon enough. As a business owner myself, I know that a company is a representation of its owner. The fact that it got out of control says something about the Ford family as a whole.
If other factors are in fact the source of Ford's problems, maybe a good CEO can fix whatever is wrong.
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mat 3:13PM (9/07/2006)
#1 I agree with you. All I ever see Bill Jr. do is show up at an event to mark a new edition of the Mustang. I am sick of Shelby this shelby that. How many freakin Cobra variations you want? They really need to shrink this company and grow it again.
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Ethan 11:09AM (9/11/2006)
The problem runs much deeper than the CEO. Long term reliablity is very poor at Ford and for that matter, the big three.
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alex hofstetter 2:23PM (9/07/2006)
Ford's problem is car product. They were making fortunes selling pimped out Navigators and Expeditions and neglected their cars.
The Taurus was their best selling car a couple of months ago, and it isn't even a retail product.
As Fordman says, the rest are warmed over Mazdas and Volvos.
The Mustang is an unqualified home run, but the rest of the lot can barely muster a bunt single between them.
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Shawn 2:12PM (9/07/2006)
Why bother having a CEO when you can just poll the public and go with that. It works so well for Washington when they run the country that way.
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Ryan 2:15PM (9/07/2006)
"It is true, Ford's problem has little do with its CEO"
What is a CEO TRULY responsible for?! At this point all I have heard is basically nothing. Wow, I want that job.
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dejal 7:18AM (9/08/2006)
Up until a couple of days ago no one knew who Alan Mulally was, but that doesn't stop 1880 people from deciding whether he's the anwser or not.
Even if he's a genius, the company is not going to turn around tommorrow. Large companies are like supertankers, tough to start, turn and stop.
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JarryHames 2:50PM (9/07/2006)
Agree! Leadership isn't the problem at Ford. It's all about the products. I do remember that they were in the business of selling cars. It seems that they've focused so much on their SUVs. It looks like the cars were an afterthought. They should have kept the Taurus and refined it with each design. Honda and Toyota do it over and over again with their Accords and Camrys. No, they decided to bring the watered down Audi - Five Hundred to market. The Escape should have been ready for the popular return of small cars. It is the same old tired design that has been around for way too long. The Fusion is ok. And the Mustang is the only hit on their hands. The Freestyle was a waste of money and supplies. Once again, they were rushing to the CUV segment and totally missed the mark. It's also time finally give up on the Navigator truck. Caddy is so far ahead of them with the Escalade. The blingin' SUV era is so 2 - 3 years ago. It's time to go back to the basic and make some really sharp sedans and attractive, fuel efficient CUVs.
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Ryan 2:21PM (9/07/2006)
"As Fordman says, the rest are warmed over Mazdas and Volvos."
-That have been nothing but sucessful for Ford, so you make 0% sense.
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Andres 4:59PM (9/07/2006)
1. any company that pays an employee not to work will always be in trouble
Posted at 1:57PM on Sep 7th 2006 by len simpson 0 stars
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
So true. Some people think that's the American Way though.
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Ryan 4:05PM (9/07/2006)
Ahh, forget it.
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Steve 3:35PM (9/07/2006)
Obviously, CEOs don't do the hands on work... designing, building, marketing and selling the product. But like it or not, the buck really does stop at the CEO's desk. He should have the board's backing to create a management team that will produce, market and sell great products. Bill Ford is a nice guy, but he hasn't done what was needed... but I wouldn't want to be in the new guy's shoes either... except maybe for the paycheck. It will be interesting to see what happens in the next year or two.
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Whydrive 3:37PM (9/07/2006)
It's so easy to just build better cars. I mean, just look at how easy it is for Toyota to build cars that everyone wants - such as the luxurious Avalon, the sporty Camry, and the economical Corolla. Why can't Ford make cars as beautiful as Toyota's?
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Chris 3:49PM (9/07/2006)
I have never seen a beautiful Toyota.
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Richard 3:51PM (9/07/2006)
#11 - you can't be serious. The Avalon is cheesy inside and out. I don't think you can use the word "sporty" and Camry in the same sentence.
Building the same type "cattle cars" that Toyota builds is why Fords sucks now.
You can't live on FWD POS econoboxes and SUVs. The Mustang is the only winner, and ford will ruin it when they starting charging too much for the Boss.
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Ryan 4:04PM (9/07/2006)
"But like it or not, the buck really does stop at the CEO's desk."
F--k yeah it does! If the buck does not stop at the CEO who does it stop at? Does the CEO carry any responsibility, actually do people at the TOP of the authority chain take any responsibility anymore?
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Ryan 5:56PM (9/07/2006)
"16. 1. any company that pays an employee not to work will always be in trouble"
-Hmmmm, I wonder how many of us are at work typing this right now?!
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Sean 6:16PM (9/07/2006)
I guess the F150 is to Ford what the minivan is to Chrysler? Ford "had" the hot selling Taurus, in a time when Honda and Toyota were showing strong growth..People actually wanted a Taurus!!but stupid Ford let it wither and die..what idiot let this happen?...they had a solid mass market car...that outsold the so called best Camaccord..If ford would have given constant attention to the Taurus, they would have been in much better shape.
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