Tom AustinI was inspired by a review of Bob Lutz latest book, “Car Guys vs. Bean Counters” that I found in today’s Wall Street Journal.
I’ve followed Lutz for at least 20 years. Unconventional. Iconoclastic. The “review” of his latest book is worth reading.
Lutz has always been a guy with more passion and emotion than a typical “corporate type”. In a way, he’s a Steve Jobs type — intensely focused on the product experience.
One could argue that the Lutz approach is needed in certain areas (e.g., design). That’s what’s made Jobs and Apple so successful in the last decade. The Lutz piece also raises the question of how do you ensure the culture learns from and perpetuates the same patterns in the future. By his words, Porsche has done it. Most others have not. Why not?
I have mixed feelings about the two approaches. Sometimes, you want and need the analytical and consensus based approach. Sometimes, you want design inspiration and passion, along with a bit of autocracy. Consensus rarely produces insanely different breakthroughs. It breeds conformity. Conformity is good…except when it isn’t.
How do you balance these opposite vectors? Which makes the most sense? When is the current choice wrong? How do you change the course of your enterprise or industry?
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