Nickname: Juice

Review: The UAW has no interest in "sinking" the company with a strike. When was the last time the UAW authorized a strike at Ford? The UAW has already agreed to concessions to help with "legacy" costs prior to the 2008 contract negotiations, which will shift some of those costs to retirees and workers. What's really preventing Ford from competing in this "global marketplace" is the lack of fresh product and the needless complexity of its management structure, plain and simple - which Mullaly has admitted to. An entrenched bureaucracy within management and multiple manufacturing platforms are the real "inefficiencies", not the autoworker trying to earn a fair union wage.

Date reviewed: Jan 10, 2007 10:32 PM

Nickname: RHH

Review: I was extremely pleased, and even proud, of Bill Ford Jr. the way he approached bringing needed talent into the company. I believe it is a great decision, having spent 36 years there and watching the last 12 years from the outside in anguish.

Date reviewed: Sep 7, 2006 1:21 PM

Nickname: NeuroticInCA

Review: " If the UAW decides to strike Ford next year when the automaker's contract negotiations open, the work stoppage could sink the company. " That statement says it all about what is really keeping Ford from competing in this global marketplace. Legecy costs are gonna kill Ford. Period. It was a great concept back in the good ol' days, but no longer makes sense. Mulally's first task shouldn't be to create a better product line, but to rid the company of these inefficiencies.

Date reviewed: Sep 7, 2006 12:29 AM

Nickname: nrirureta

Review: i wouldn't sell Aston or Land Rover...maybe not even Jaguar...

Date reviewed: Sep 7, 2006 12:07 AM

Nickname: Punnon

Review: Mulally will perform better and he can do a lot of things for Ford.

Date reviewed: Sep 6, 2006 9:56 PM

Nickname: phil

Review: It has been well established that Bill Ford and the current Ford Management Team have done a miserable job of steering the company. Mark Fields has excuses for the lack of progress. I think everyone would agree gas prices were rising well over 5 years ago and all of the sudden Ford goes into Cardiac Arrest with poor sales. Too much time has passed, recalls have destroyed much of the Ford reserves, and the designs Ford needs are located in Europe and Central-South America. Hey, like of the readers noted the new CEO drives a LEXUS. He knows QUALITY.

Date reviewed: Sep 6, 2006 9:37 PM

Nickname: Gypsygirl

Review: Having worked in Boeing Commercial Airplanes for 25 years, I am very sad to see Alan Mulally leave. He is a dynamic, personable, and very effective leader and motivator. Ford is fortunate to have him! Even though he (in his own words) is "not a car guy", he IS a manufacturing and engineering expert, as well as a true 'people person' who allows whining only if there are solutions offered, too. He has a set of groundrules that allow people to feel empowered, while at the same time offering leadership in the most true sense of the word. Congratulations, Alan, and to Ford, "Good on ya!"

Date reviewed: Sep 6, 2006 8:39 PM

Nickname: jake

Review: Mullaly should do well. Combination of engineering/ production background and street smarts. Plus he is one of the best communicators ever. After 15 minutes of listening to the guy, most people walk off thinking "I'd follow him anywhere". It's always a crap shoot when you bring in a complete outsider but I'd wager on Mulally doing well. It's not like the bar is set all that high anyway....

Date reviewed: Sep 6, 2006 6:15 PM

Nickname: swlam

Review: Just want to include this quote by Philip Kotler here - "Good marketing is partly a matter of following the rules. Great marketing often happens by breaking the rules". Hope Bill Ford's determination to break the rule will bring a silver lining.

Date reviewed: Sep 6, 2006 5:50 PM

Nickname: DB

Review: Solution: Develop and market the Ford F-550 with GE turbofan mounted in the truck bed. 0.13 miles per gallon.

Date reviewed: Sep 6, 2006 5:01 PM