GM: 100 Years of Revolution
General Motors is among one of the most powerful fortune 500 companies that have spent over 100 years revolutionizing the automotive industry with world-changing innovations. Founded in 1908, GM began its journey of revolution when they developed the first electric self-starter in their 1912 Cadillac. Over time, GM developed a decentralized concept of management that changed the way industrial enterprises modeled their own management structure in the United States. The structure behind General Motors, as well as a never-ending desire for growth, has brought unmeasurable success in the past and limitless potential into the future.
In addition to being a household name to many with the GM name living in driveways, General Motors has dedicated all their talents to support a powerful mission. Their mission as stated on their website states, “We envision a future of zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion, and we have committed ourselves to lead the way toward this future.” Living by this statement, GM prides themselves on being the first automotive company to mass-produce an affordable electric car, electric starter, and airbags. GM holds themselves to a standard to achieve goals that benefit not only their company but, society as a whole. By currently, having the lowest carbon footprint in their company’s history, they are making giant leaps towards achieving their 2020 operational commitments to reduce energy, carbon, water and waste intensity. As mentioned, the revolution did not happen overnight, the power of GM is a result of strong leadership and team collaboration.
In addition to being a household name to many with the GM name living in driveways, General Motors has dedicated all their talents to support a powerful mission. Their mission as stated on their website states, “We envision a future of zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion, and we have committed ourselves to lead the way toward this future.” Living by this statement, GM prides themselves on being the first automotive company to mass-produce an affordable electric car, electric starter, and airbags. GM holds themselves to a standard to achieve goals that benefit not only their company but, society as a whole. By currently, having the lowest carbon footprint in their company’s history, they are making giant leaps towards achieving their 2020 operational commitments to reduce energy, carbon, water and waste intensity. As mentioned, the revolution did not happen overnight, the power of GM is a result of strong leadership and team collaboration.
William C. Durant founded General Motors on September 16, 1908. Ironically enough, Durant was thought to be the last person to develop GM because previously he made his living being the leading manufacturer of horse-drawn vehicles. Durant was an innovative and charismatic leader that unfortunately, was phased out of the organization due to financial issues. Durant left just as quickly as GM was formed, leaving the company to sink or swim in the hands of many other leaders that developed the management styles that shaped the way that this fortune 500 company grew today. Alfred Sloan, Harlow Curtice, and Mary Barra are leaders that revolutionized or are continuously revolutionizing, GM for the good of not only the customers but, the needs of employees as well.
Sources: https://www.gm.com/our-company/about-gm.html, https://www.britannica.com/topic/General-Motors-Corporation,
https://myautoworld.com/gm/history/history/durant/durant.html
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