Let me see if I have this right… The New GM CEO knows nothing about cars, the 31 year-old, who still hasn’t graduated law school, knows nothing about the auto industry, nor has he had any real life experience, but will be overseeing this, Obama knows nothing about America, and Biden just doesn’t know anything – GIRD YOUR LOINS!

Edward E. Whitacre Jr. built AT&T Inc. into the biggest U.S. provider of telephone service over a 43-year-career. By his own admission, he becomes chairman of General Motors Corp. knowing nothing about the auto industry.

The 6-foot-4-inch Texan nicknamed “Big Ed” said steering the nation’s largest automaker after bankruptcy is “a public service.” People who know him say he can meet GM’s need for the type of transformation he orchestrated at Dallas-based AT&T.

“I don’t know anything about cars,” Whitacre, 67, said yesterday in an interview after his appointment. “A business is a business, and I think I can learn about cars. I’m not that old, and I think the business principles are the same.”

It is true that business principles remain the same, but it’s not always that cut and dry, especially in an ailing industry that has complex problems, requiring complex solutions.  If Whitacre has experience negotiating and dealing with unions then that’s a huge plus, but if not, he has some learning to do, and not a lot of time.  It’s one thing to reinvent a company like AT&T when you already know the issues and the core competencies of the company, as well as the inner workings of the industry.  It’s an entirely different thing if you know nothing about the actual product, life cycle, or process…

Here is some common sense for a second, stay with me:

I worked as a financial analyst/specialist for government contracts at a defense contractor specifically making radars and electronic systems.  I switched jobs and was doing the same financial analysis, but for biodefense products, of which I knew nothing.  My job requires budgeting, forecasting, scheduling, and analysis. therefore, I must know the process, the program, what to expect, how to fix things, you name it!  Because of my lack of experience with the actual product and the knowledge of the company’s competencies, I was not thrown into a leadership position right away.  I was given a period of orientation to understand the job and the types of programs being managed.  The basic principles of my job stayed the same, but the product and procedures were different – and it makes a huge difference.

Unfortunately, GM needs somebody that doesn’t have to have on-the-job training, but since the government is making decisions and the POTUS is currently practicing his own on-the-job training, this comes to me as no surprise.  Heck! my father who has been a GM mechanic for over 30 years could probably be a better chair.

Not to worry, GM is in good hands…/sarc

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