I have dealt with GE companies.
I would rather deal with the Russian Mafia. They are at least more honest.
GE’s model is nuts. Firing bottom 10% every year, then hiring them back as consultants.
Trying to do business with them has always been daunting. I have always felt there is a corrupt nature to all of their dealings. They got in a hurry for a multi=million dollar lamp warehouse one time. I bid it and was awarded the contract. Built it and could never get any feedback on further opportunities.
They had no warranty, satisfaction or quality issues — their attitude was “we don’t need anyone.”
Later with a much larger company, I did some pre-qualification paperwork and it was one giant submission after another with no feed-back or questions. I finally decided it was a stall and that GE staff was taking payoffs from buddies and interviewing the market just to have stuff in their filing cabinets.
“GE’s model is nuts. Firing bottom 10% every year, then hiring them back as consultants.”
I’ve seen the ranking system eliminate some very good people who were not good at office politics. The schmoozers did well, especially if they were in a protected class. In the 90’s it normally took a lot of merit to hold on or advance, became much more “political” after Welch retired. Welch had a great internal training system that developed leadership such that as he prepared to retire there were 3 main contenders - the two “losers” going on to head Boeing and Home Depot. Lots of talent at all levels have left GE for better positions elsewhere when they didn’t fit the political model, and GE has paid the price.
” Firing bottom 10% every year, then hiring them back as consultants.”
That’s the IBM model too. Wonder if it has anything to do with an Ivy League business education?
“Firing bottom 10% every year, then hiring them back as consultants.”
That’s not exactly how it worked. It was explained as cut from the bottom and add to the top. Replace the dead wood on a continual basis. Once gone they were NOT hired as consultants. It was a really brutal process and was very hard on employees and managers. Everyone knew good people who got canned for having 1 or 2 bad years and HATED IT. Immelt was actually the one who ended it.