GM's Casual Culture Club
Like a highschooler puffing on its first joint, GM’s embattled corporate culture is sure it can feel something changing, and it’s eager to share its fresh perspective on itself. As with the allegorical proto-stoner however, when the need to appear altered is more important than an honest journey of self-discovery, strange hilarity ensues. To wit, this tidbit from the WSJ’s Bankruptcy Beat Blog:
“As we work to create the New GM with a new culture that includes personal accountability, our existing dress code seems outdated,” Mary Barra, GM’s vice president of global human resources, wrote in an employee memo earlier this month, according to the newspaper. “Going forward, our dress code policy is ‘Dress appropriately.’”
After giving its balance sheet a makeover in bankruptcy, it seems the company is finally ready for a cultural revamp too. It’s renaming its conference rooms – anyone up for a meeting in the “Groovy Room” or the “Zen Room?” – in an effort to promote risk-taking.
All of which leads to at least one troubling question: what is “appropriate” attire for a meeting held in the “Groovy Room?” I mean, how much “risk taking” are we talking about promoting? Also, as this video from a year ago proves, casual dress at GM was Rick Wagoner’s idea… sort of.
More by Edward Niedermeyer
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As the GM culture will truly never change, thus maintaining the need to endlessly suffer Death By Meetings, I'd suggest they rename their countless meeting rooms after all of the neglected models and brands which died at the hands of beancounters and multi-layered management. Oops - gotta go: We have a four-hour all-hands in the Nomad Auditorium. Gotta grab some coffee and No-Doz first.
Exhibit 3,017 in the list of reasons GM will not exist in five years: a "vice president of global human resources" who issues memos about what people wear (no doubt after endless meetings to discuss and redraft). Susan Docherty can waltz in wearing nothing but Saran Wrap for all I care - there's no way I'm buying anything that looks like a LaCrosse from the shithole they call a dealer in my town. There has not been one scintilla of evidence that GM has changed one single thing that actually matters.
Awesome allegory. Iffy thesis.