Identify a Global Player That Exemplifies Globalization Today
Case Study: Week 6 Assignment 2
Identify a Global Player that Exemplifies Globalization Today
Randall Stebner
GS 3150 Global Politics
February 20, 2013
General Electric (GE) is the nations largest industrial company, and very well diversified. Over the past thirty years, their portfolio has been reduced to infrastructure and financial services. Simplicity and innovation are key elements in the GE business model. Jack Welch and Jeffery Immelt, the former and current Chairman and CEO are both transformational leaders in business and Globalization. The company, while successful has seen its fair share of controversy. I believe the arguments have merit and are worthy of scrutiny and debate.
General Electrics Products and Services at the Macro Level
General Electric is a United States industrial company with a large global footprint in 140 countries. Infrastructure Products include: Aviation, Enterprise Solutions, Healthcare, and Transportation. Financial Services include Corporate Accounting and Controllers Staff, Customer Care and Aftersales, Financial Planning and Analysis, Global Information Technology Finance, Global Product Development, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain Finance, General Motors Audit Services, Investor relations, Manufacturing and Labor Relations Finance, OnStar Finance, Treasurers Office, and US Sales, Service and Marketing the diversity of their products
The Transformation of General Electric
Jack Welch and Jeffery Immelt are respected transformational leaders. Their initiatives are responsible for making and keeping GE one of the most powerful global players on the world scene.
In 1981, the year Welch became Chairman and CEO, he reported to the shareholders “excellence will dominant our Companys culture” (Welch, Key Annual Speech to Shareholders by CEO Jack Welch 1981). Welch also committed to achieving six sigma qualities; “delighting customers, outside-in thinking, and leadership commitment” (General Electric 2013).
Figure 1 GEs Evolution Towards Quality
The lists of Welchs successes are endless and astonishing. Welch fixed a company that wasnt broken, and in the process GEs value had gone up 4,000 percent.
Jeffery Immelt took the reins from Welch on September 7, 2001. One might assume he would follow in the footsteps of his predecessor. He too is a transitional leader and has led a global expansion over the last decade. “Ten years ago thirty percent of GEs sales were