In response to an FT article by Thomas Sattelberger on 22nd September 2015, entitled 'Design flaws that blight German business'
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d0021d9a-613c-11e5-9846-de406ccb37f2.html#ixzz3mXagkChK
"Michael Horn, VW’s chief executive in the US, admitted on Monday night that the company “totally screwed up” in a way that was “completely inconsistent with our core values”. But such inconsistencies have been unearthed at VW before"
These are not 'inconsistencies' and the 'core values' being referred to are clearly not valued more than 'clever trickery', nor do they guide the decision making at the centre of the company.
Having a 'core value' means standing up and saying 'not on my watch' very loudly when some 'clever fool' comes up with a fraudulent idea. Having a 'core value' means blowing the whistle if your boss is the 'clever fool' in question.
I've got a 'core value'. This value exists independently of any 'label' I might give it, it doesn't require me to adorn my wall with a poster reminding me of its virtue, and I don't care how much or how little it impresses the gullible. A natural by-product of this value that doesn't need a label means that I'm not taken in by spurious tosh like: “this is completely inconsistent with our core values” or even post-event rationalisation like:
"VW’s troubles are partly the result of a quest for scale"
VW's troubles are entirely the result of idiots thinking they could get away with it, and gutless by-standers keeping their mouths shut. This happens when 'the quest for scale' is the real core value, and fear of speaking out is prevalent.
They are not alone - there are people reading this article today from other industries and other companies, notably Wall Street, who will be thinking thoughts like 'this goes on every day where I work'. How do I know that? Because BS is not confined to Germany or the automobile industry. Here's another prediction - over the coming months more of these people are going to be speaking out - enough is enough.