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An Action Plan for General Motors

I, like so many people who have been following General Motors' fortunes for some time, am wondering what the company's long term plan of action is in the face of historic losses, plant closings, and unrelenting and widening competition. No, I am not talking about GM's global operations, rather I am talking about the North American fortunes of the world's largest automaker. Quite frankly, the North American market is currently unprofitable for the company while GM holds its own, even thrives, in many markets beyond our borders. The following are some suggestions to help "The General" not only get back on its feet again, but to halt the bleeding in North America.

File For Bankruptcy -- It is time to play hardball with recalcitrant unions and government authorities who don't understand that GM is playing on an uneven field. Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Hyundai all build cars in the U.S. None of them are saddled by huge legacy costs, i.e. health and pension benefits, local tax burdens, etc. Yes, GM negotiated their contracts in good faith, however the market has changed tremendously over the past several decades and is wholly unfavorable to the way GM has been doing business since then. In addition, GM often operates at a disadvantage in foreign markets as local laws limit their ability to effectively sell their vehicles.

Quit Building Small Cars -- All small cars built by GM should no longer be built in the U.S. This includes the Saturn ION and Chevrolet Cobalt. Instead, GM should rely on imports. By tapping its relationship with Daewoo of South Korea, GM can bring in enough cheaply made models to remain competitive and to give consumers affordable transportation under the Saturn, Chevrolet, and Pontiac nameplates. Use factories in Canada and the U.S. to build larger cars and trucks only. GM has been successfully selling the Chevy Aveo, a Daewoo model, and can easily sell other models at competitive prices. This practice would be especially wise as cheaply priced Chinese cars begin to hit the North American market in 2007.

Shore Up The Divisions Unlike some who think that GM has too many divisions, I disagree. Better to clarify your existing divisions than to go through the costly and negative closing of existing divisions. The Oldsmobile termination was a huge financial drain on the company and ended up fueling hostility against the company. Therefore, this is what I propose for GM:

1.    Cadillac - GM's luxury division is riding high and no changes need to be made. Keep producing distinguishable high quality luxury cars and Cadillac will continue to compete against the likes of Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, and Infiniti. Cadillac outsells Lincoln by more than 2 to 1 and the division performs well in all consumer quality and satisfaction surveys.

2.    Buick - As the "near luxury" division for GM, Buick must create a viable alternative to Cadillac without sacrificing quality or confusing consumers. Bring back in a "halo" model like the Regal to show Buick's youthful side.

3.    Pontiac - Unless the Firebird returns, Pontiac's performance image is gone for good. Pontiac needs this car and it must be different from the proposed Chevy Camaro. Besides Saab, Pontiac is the one division that needs the most work when it comes to reinventing itself.

4.    Chevrolet - Keep up what you have, but rely on imports to fill the lower end of the market. Redo the Impala to help it compete successfully against the Chrysler 300, Toyota Camry, and Honda Accord. Yes, bring back the Camaro!

5.    Saturn - Moving in the right direction, Saturn should chiefly sell cars that are Opel inspired. Give the car a more European flair and the division will succeed. The Sky is a knock out and the Opel inspired Aura is a vast improvement over the old "L" Series model. Keep the strong dealer network in place and Saturn will compete successfully against Hyundai, Honda, Toyota, Nissan, and others.

6.    Saab - GM's Swedish division is floundering and may be cut. Better yet, let the division sell upscale versions of Opel models and please do not throw out the Swedish touch: safety and durability. Unfortunately, GM hasn't been as kind to its Swedish company as Ford has been to its Volvo subsidiary.

7.    GMC - Between Chevy and GMC, no manufacturer sells more passengers trucks then this division. Likely, nothing will change, but coming out with a more capable small pick up truck would go along way in helping GMC and Chevy. Also, redo the Equinox to be a real battler against the Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4.

8.    Hummer - GM's niche division is the Hummer and little needs to be changed other than to add an H4, a compact Hummer. With the H4, give the division something to go with that can battle the Jeep Wrangler. Hummer will always be perceived as the company's gas guzzling company, but it is also profitable for the corporation.

Personally, I do not want the bankruptcy route to be exercised as I know that so many suppliers would be left out in the cold, jobs lost, and goodwill would take a hit for at least the short term. Still, aggressive action - even beyond plant closings and layoffs - must be considered otherwise GM will be relegated to operating as a second rate player in North America while pursuing its fortunes abroad. In my opinion, neglecting the profitable North American market would be a shame and very costly.

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Studying Physics in the UK

Physics is concerned with observing natural phenomena in the world about us, trying to understand them and to predict what might happen in new and unknown situations. Physics is also about the processes of observing, understanding and predicting in relation to man-made systems. Physics deals with profound questions about the nature of the universe and with some of the most important, practical, study usenvironmental and technological issues of our time, such as energy shortages and climate change. It is a very broad subject involving experiment and observations, theory and mathematics, computing technology, materials and information theory. It is also a creative subject. Ideas and techniques from physics drive developments in related subject areas including chemistry, computing, engineering, materials science, mathematics, medicine and the life sciences, meteorology and statistics.

Why should I study Physics specifically in the UK?

 

The UK has a long and distinguished history in physics. Many of the famous names in physics such as Newton, Faraday, Maxwell, Rutherford worked in the UK. As well as this heritage in physics, the UK has a thriving research community that has a very high international profile and attracts researchers from all around the world. Studying physics in the UK will allow you to experience the past, present and future of physics.

 

There are several different ways you can study physics in higher education in the UK.

The main route is a degree course at a university. One particular feature of the UK system is the ability to opt for a longer integrated Masters degree such as an MPhys (Master of Physics) or MSci (Master in science) as an alternative to the standard BSc (Bachelor of Science). An integrated Masters is a degree programme with an additional year that focuses more on research skills through extended project work. Usually the entry grades are a little higher than for a BSc. study usA BSc covers all the essentials of physics – and it doesn't stop you going on to research if you want to.

 

Degrees from UK universities are highly regarded and so would allow you to continue your career in physics anywhere in the world.

As well as the research aspects UK universities are renowned for the social side of things – with music and sports playing an important role in university life.

 

What qualities should I look for in a good physics degree?

 

The Institute of Physics provides an accreditation of physics degrees in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. So a good starting point would be to look at the register of accredited courses.

 

You might want to consider:

 

• Is there a particular aspect of physics that interests you?
• Special features, such as spending a year abroad?
• The possibility of an industrial placement
• How good is the quality of the teaching?
• What is the size of tutor groups?
• Entrance requirements
• Would you like to live in a hall of residence?

 

Could I combine a physics degree?

 

Choosing a physics degree combined with another subject gives you the chance to broaden your studies to include something you are really interested in or something new. Many universities offer specialist options. There are options in science-based areas such as astronomy, maths, meteorology, medical physicsstudy us, space science, satellite technology and computer science. There are also less science based options such as music, philosophy or a foreign language.

 

Where would a career in physics take me?

 

The career opportunities available are as vast as the subject itself due, in part, to the transferable skills gained whilst studying physics. Employers see a physics qualification as an indication of someone who will immediately be an asset to the organisation.

 

This is because:

 

• Physics develops a logical and numerate mind

• The ability to solve problems, gained through studying physics, is of paramount importance

• Communication skills are developed through report-writing and oral presentations

• Computing and practical skills are second nature to those trained in physics

• Teamwork and flexibility are essential in lab work and projects

 

The employment prospects for those with qualifications in physics are excellent and opportunities exist both in Britain and throughout Europe, and North America. While some physics graduates go on to work in academic research and teaching, the majority of physics graduates move into jobs where they are not working as ‘physicists' as such, but in which they are using the skills developed through studying physics. They are challenged by moving into new fields but succeed because of their skills and training in physics. Some physics graduates are employed in industry, on the research and development side – industries such as those concerned with opto-electronics, computing, telecommunications, materials, motor vehicle technology, semiconductors, and power generation.

 

The fact that physicists have such a broad skill set makes them highly desirable to a wide variety of employers. In fact, according to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers, physics graduates earn around £187,000 more during their career than someone with A-levels but no degree, whereas history and English graduates increase their earnings by only about half as much. In the UK, graduates in physics earn more than those in most other disciplines.

 

What qualities or interests as a student should I have to consider choosing physics degree?

 

Probably the most important qualities for a physicist are curiosity, imagination and a fascination with how the world works. At university level mathematical ability is very important.

 

The majority of people in the UK applying for admission to a physics degree course will be taking GCE A-levels, a mixture of AS and A-levels, or Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers.

 

At present most universities expect you to have A-levels in physics and mathematics, with either a third A-level or one or more AS awards in any other subject(s) when you start your degree course. However, there is increasing flexibility to accommodate those with non-standard entry qualifications.

 

Mature candidates often have non-standard backgrounds; in such cases a flexible approach will be taken – the main criterion is whether you have the right abilities and the qualities to succeed. Many colleges now run "Access to Higher Education" courses designed mainly for mature people or for those wishing to change direction towards physics or engineering.

 

Are there further study options available and what are the benefits?

 

Following an undergraduate degree in physics, graduates can choose to remain in the subject by going on to study for a Masters degree (MSc/MRes) or a doctorate (PhD). About one in four students go on to study for a postgraduate qualification in physics. One reason for doing so is that students often view it as a natural extension of their undergraduate degree i.e. they want to further their knowledge by studying for an MSc or relish the challenges of undertaking a PhD because they feel that they can make an original contribution to physics.

A first degree in Physics is an excellent foundation and opens many opportunities, but if you are looking to move into employments in a particular sector then an MSc may give you a step up as they are highly valued by employers and in some cases specific qualification are essential, for example an MSc in Medical Physics is needed if you want to pursue a career as a hospital radiologist. Masters degrees are often sponsored by employers.  Companies such as British Telecom will sponsor students to take an MSc in telecommunications as it will prepare potential employees for the fast changing world of mobile voice and data communications.

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