Professor Elam

Sunday Jan 31 2010

 Sony Toyota and JAL are having problems.   Once Toyota got as big as GM it started making the same kinds of mistakes. As the article points out a one part fits all strategy saves money but raises the possibility of Tipping Point across all model lines if the part fails. Which is what happened. 

There is always someone coming up from behind. Woolco is gone, K Mart ate Sears, what good did that do Sears? and Wal Mart is now enjoying a resurgence in price centered behavior. 

Group think is part of the problem. TQM is not about innovation that's for sure. The downfall is quality is trading the quality idea for larger market share. It seems that the reputation for quality goes hand in hand with smaller markets and defense of price. Apple computer and Macintosh stereos come to mind. Trek and Cannondale bikes are not sold in department stores. Stihl power products are not sold in big box retailers. Defending one's product integrity is another piece of the puzzle. 

TCU has improved its academic status in the last ten years. It made the decision to cap enrollment at 7500, the accolades keep coming.