Rick Wagoner is stepping down. Chrysler is trying to merge with Fiat. Ford is laying low and putting on a brave face. My friends and family working at GM are on edge. It’s tough to watch this unfold when you know so many people who could be devastated by the likely outcome (hmm, including myself I suppose). I’m not looking to make any big preachy statements on the situation. I just find myself thinking again today about management problems. GM’s still got ‘em, big-time.

The company has had bloated management ranks for years, and when a company is tasked with laying off a certain number of workers, it’s simply not common for the dud manager in charge of making cuts to lay himself off. So, even if Dudley the manager makes good decisions about which employees under him to let go, the company is still stuck with Dudley. Dudley has kids to feed and no job prospects, and he’s not going anywhere.

I know, Dudley has a manager who can decide to lay him off, but in a crisis, Dudley’s manager is not going to remove the person taking care of the next layer of people below her. Someone’s got to manage the department and keep track of the projects in progress. Dudley stays. Dudley’s employees who had job prospects left several years ago when they saw the oncoming train. Everyone else is too stressed to do their work properly. Anyone know how to fix this? GM would like to hear from you. Please call the Renaissance Center, and ask to speak with Dudley’s manager’s manager’s manager’s manager.