Surviving Transformation: Lessons from GM's Surprising Turnaround

Describes the strategic turnaround at General Motors beginning in the early 1990s that has brought it back from the brink of bankruptcy. This work focuses on how other companies in a variety of industries can learn from GM's experience.

"This book makes clear the successful journey to transformation does not start with the departure, it starts with the destination."–Peter Drucker

"Surviving Transformation is an excellent study of the real issues associated with transforming organizations. Standing on the shoulders of his mentors-Russ Ackoff and Peter Drucker-Barabba takes us to new heights in understanding how to successfully lead business transformation. Surviving Transformation elegantly weaves theory with the practical examples of GM's successful transformation as it prepared to compete in the 21st century." –J. Bruce Harreld, Senior Vice President of Strategy, IBM

"Barabba provides an in-depth examination of General Motors's transformation under challenging conditions, but the lessons are universal and will be recognized by every business executive competing in today's global markets." –Gary Bridge, Vice President, Internet Business Solutions Group, Cisco

"Vince Barabba's masterful book destroys the facile distinction 'academic vs. practitioner.' He is more theoretical and reflective than most academics, and more practical and thoughtful than most practitioners. Surviving Transformation is the best blend of theory and practice that I have encountered. It should be read by every business manager and executive. It might just revolutionize the concept of management." –Ian Mitroff, Harold Quinton Distinguished Professor of Business Policy, Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California

"I saw GM from 30,000 feet, and never understood enough about what was happening under the hood. Surviving Transformation explains for me how it came back from the brink. It was not easy to turn a battleship in a narrow stream of molasses." –Ira M. Millstein, Senior Partner, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP Corporate Governance

"This book is about transformation. It tackles transformation from a unique angle. It is not about restructuring and performance evaluation or training programs: it demonstrates that by changing selectively how we do business-by changing our interactions with customers, by changing the way we formulate problems internally, and by changing the ways we imagine a future-we can make a difference."–C.K. Prahalad, Foreword to Surviving Transformation