Thread: VW caught by the Yanks for breaking emission laws

Yes, there are definitely big questions here about the corporate culture within VW. If some people in a company think its OK to deliberately cheat government laws designed to keep the air we breathe clean, then something is seriously wrong with the corporate culture.
I've been on boards of directors. My role was to test the status quo, ask hard questions and ensure the company's executives were leading it in ways which would ensure its future.
Corporate culture starts at the top and works its way down so, even if the 20 VW board members didn't know about the cheat software, they are still ultimately responsible for overseeing a corporate culture in which some people thought cheating was OK.
As board members it was their role to prevent actions being taken which, as we now know, are going to cost VW dearly, both in cash and, more importantly, in damage to its global reputation. VW could lose its position as the world's largest automaker because of this controversy. Over at Toyota, they must be quietly gleeful.
I bet all around the world now the directors of other vehicle manufacturers are interrogating their executives to make damm sure no-one else is using emissions cheating software. If I was one of those directors, that's exactly what I would be doing.
I thought this was a good opinion piece from a respected person:
BBC - Capital - The people who could

Originally Posted by DiscoMick

then something is seriously wrong with the corporate culture.

they have the correct corporate culture.

shareholders first
everyone else second

Originally Posted by Eevo

they have the correct corporate culture.

shareholders first
everyone else second

I doubt the shareholders are going to thank them if the company goes under and the shareholders lose their investments.

Originally Posted by Eevo

they have the correct corporate culture.

shareholders first
everyone else second

If what you say is true, how has the board put shareholder interest above everything else - by circumventing the law, trashing the reputation of the company, exposing the company to crippling law suits and ultimately destroying shareholder wealth?

I think they have actually failed shareholders, certainly not put them first.

Originally Posted by BMKal

I doubt the shareholders are going to thank them if the company goes under and the shareholders lose their investments.

that wont happen.

1) they have punched the numbers.
the increased sales is more than the fine and lawsuits.

2) if not, the govt will bail them out

3) VW will be able to promote themselves as coming clean. mistakes were made, etc etc. and increase sales in the long run.

I think a few in here live in fantasy land...

Eevo spelt it out.. Shareholders first, All else second...
Thats where most peoples super comes from.

Wont happen....

VW will quickly bounce back from this - offer up a patsy, become a good corporate citizen for a while...

And if they decide to play the game - will out all the other manufactures..

True.................again.