Leadership in Action: Issues and Observations - The Narrative Lens and Organizational Change

SHIFTING GEARS

Rescription is perhaps nowhere more visible than in the case of the U.S. Big Three automakers—Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors. On the brink of collapse, these automakers, in late December 2008, received up to $17.4 billion in emergency loans, with the caveat that they restructure and demonstrate their viability by the end of March 2009. Now the automakers must retool and shift gears. They can no longer rely on the trucks and sportutility vehicles that in the past provided a large portion of their revenue. A new story line is emerging in Detroit. The new script reflects a radical rethinking and change: shifting production from trucks and SUVs to small, fuel-efficient passenger cars.

Helping Leaders See New Possibilities

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