Management Assignment

GENERAL MOTORS (GM)

MGMT 5355 Online

Read the following case study:

General Motors and the Chevy Cobalt Ignition Switch Crisis (PDF on Blackboard)

Read the following handouts (PDFs on Blackboard):

Crisis Communications Essentials

Fundamentals of Crisis Management

Four Methods of Ethical Reasoning

Answer the following questions with short essays (Typed, New Times Roman 12pt. Font,

Double-Spaced w/ 1" margins). Please clearly separate and mark each question.

Assignment Questions:

1. What is the problem here? What are the key strategic issues, both short-term and long-term,

that face GM CEO Mary Barra as of March 29, 2014? (Recommended page length: 1

page)

2. Describe the pros and cons of meeting with the families of Chevy Cobalt accident victims.

Should Mary Barra meet with the families of Chevy Cobalt accident victims? Make a

recommendation and defend your decision. (Recommended page length: ½ to 1 page)

3. Was the GM’s Committee’s decision in September 2005 to reject the part change for the

Cobalt ignition switch ethical? What is the basis for your evaluation? (Recommended

page length: 1 to 2 pages) (Hint: Use Four Methods of Ethical Reasoning Handout).

4. Using best practices, formulate a crisis communications plan for GM. (Recommended page

length: 2 to 3 pages) (Hint: Use Crisis Communications Essentials handout).

5. Using best practices, formulate a crisis management plan for GM. (Recommended page

length: 2 to 3 pages). (Hint: Use Fundamentals of Crisis Management handout).

Please upload your completed assignment as a Word document in .DOC or .DOCX format

to Blackboard by 11pm on Sunday.