General Motors

Complex technical challenges.

Ability to contribute to technical leadership of the company.

Flexible work hours.

Middle management (Directors down to Chief Engineers) seem to be so "ladder" focused at the expense of corporate competitiveness.

Extraordinary efforts are often rewarded, whereas results are not.

They tout "Workplace of choice" when 50-hour work weeks are the expected norm.

The current recognition systems reward individual effort. We need to find a way to reward genuine team efforts.

Instead of demanding 10-hour workdays, create a workplace that entices people to put in those hours willingly.

Focus on rewarding workers for favorable results instead of just effort.

Give genuine accountability and latitude to directors, chiefs, and managers. Carefully review leaders' capabilities to produce results and adjust the organization accordingly. Eliminate or diffuse any "good old boys clubs" and identify those who produce valuable results.