Quote:
Originally Posted by glatt
The recall of these cars and the "fix" for the problem will almost certainly be observable.
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Quite likely. Because an intentional software fraud would have been done for good reason - ie they could not make the engine work properly. Or, like in GM, because cars designed by business school graduates (without innovation) would have crappy gas mileage numbers.
That is speculation. But based in what seems reasonable. VW will install new software (without doubt) and may also need additional hardware. Estimated cost $7 billion.
A recent and new trend exists. Top executives were previously exempt from prosecution if they admitted to the crime - and got stockholders to pay for it. A recent Federal court jury verdict against a Georgia Peanut processor puts that chief executive in jail for 28 years for murder. Because 85% of all problems are directly traceable to top management. The reason should be held criminally responsible - not just for Enron executives.
Its about time we made chief executives responsible. Including their bonus is not paid for ten years - when spread sheets finally report whether those executives did anything productive.
VW top management had plenty of time to come clean. They stalled. He clearly knew about the problem when he was negotiating for not fixing the problem - to deny it existed. That should be criminal.
Opposite was Toyoda who testified before Congress on a Camry computer problem. He had already started a program to undo the major disasters created by Wantanabe. But as we know, that can take 4 to 10 years. Toyoda was only there for 1 year when he said bankruptcy is a 5 step process - and Toyota was already at step 3. He knew and was actively trying to undo many disasters. Toyoda was trying to undo damage when the Camry problem and Wantanabe's coverups were exposed - apparently even surprised him.
We have no reason to believe top management in VW was doing anything but a coverup. They were negotiating this problem at least a year ago when even 2015 cars were sold with the problem. Expect this solution to have consequences because the software fraud was intentionally done to mask some sort of problem. Toyota's problem and VWs problem existed for two completely different reasons.
Obviously we are discussing two different concepts - data manipulated by the powers that be and data manipulated by outside 'enemies'. The former is why companies need Inspector Generals. Latter is why companies need executive who empower the little people to make decisions - as William Edward Deming made obvious even 50 years ago.