PLEASE READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS
Assessing Organizational Culture: Preconditions of a crisis
G.M. Lawyers Hid Fatal Flaw, From Critics and One Another (Attached)
An Engineer’s Eureka Moment With a G.M. Flaw (Attached)
Topic: General Motors, the Regulators, and the Cover-up
-Watch The GM Culture and the regulators: Recipe for disaster https://vimeo.com/405009930
-Watch Did GM’s corporate culture help obscure safety issues? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USFibK7RtEg
The video presentation discusses the problems that led to the GM ignition switch and the patterns of
behavior at GM that made the crisis worse.
*Required Reading
-Discovery of a defect https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/29/business/a-florida-engineer-unlocked-the-mystery-of-gms-ignition-flaw.html?_r=0%20
-Culture of contained denial https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/07/business/gm-lawyers-hid-fatal-flaw-from-critics-and-one-another.html?_r=0
In this memo, assess how the organizational culture of General Motors led to the part
defect and automobile fatalities.
General Motors Assessment Memo Format below
(The rubric is attached)
I. Opening Segment
The introduction or opening paragraph should briefly discuss the memo’s purpose, context, and problem. The memo’s purpose will help clarify why the audience should read this document. Before providing the
reader with details and the context, give the reader a brief overview of the memo.
II. General Motors (GM) Organizational Culture
Briefly describe General Motors’ (GM) organizational culture, including values, poor communication, and inconsistency. Did GMs’ organizational culture lead to automobile fatalities? How effective or efficient were
top-level leaders? Why or why not? Did the GM organizational culture affect its success in achieving its
goals and discuss the role of leaders in the decision-making process? Did the leadership compromise and enhance in crises?
III. Ethical Dilemmas Faced by Decision-Makers
What ethical or moral dilemmas did decision-makers face due to the crisis? Give examples and discuss the implications of these decisions on the fate of individuals, communities, and perhaps the global
community.
IV. Pre-Existing Issues that Exacerbated the Crisis
What pre-existing problems within the organization contributed to or worsened the crisis? Why were the issues not addressed? Were decision-makers able to overcome these pre-existing challenges to resolve or
contain the crisis?
V. Lessons Learned
Every crisis offers a vast reservoir of experiences and lessons for future crisis planning and training.
Discuss the lessons learned from this crisis. How can these lessons be translated into revised organizational practices, policies, and laws?
VI. Closing Segment
The closing segment or conclusion should summarize the key points of the memo, be courteous, includes the action, and discuss how the reader will benefit from the desired actions and make those actions
easier.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me at cduffy@jjay.cuny.edu.
References (3 at the very least)
