Riyaz Comments on GM and Delorean

See http://mitchell-langbert.blogspot.com/2008/11/rick-waggoners-tin-cup.html

Prof. Langbert,

I was a student from your MBA class in Spring 08 at Stern.

You had referred to a book - "On A Clear Day You Can See General Motors" by John DeLorean. I had read the book and looking at the current auto industry crisis I couldnt help but wonder how terrible the management at GM has been for such a long time. Here's a quote from the book -

"our inability to compete with the foreign manufacturers is more due to management failure than anything else... past managements spent our lush advantage extravagantly...the system and management are stifling initiative...leadership and innovation are impossible... not only are these people of no help, most of what they do is wrong... after a short time, the isolated executives would find their markets taken away by competitors who were attuned to the wants and needs of the public and who were exercising their franchises to operate responsibly..."

I'd like to hear your views on the topic and if you will publish them on your blog.

Thanks,
Riyaz