<p>Toyoda Apologized. He did it a second time before the U.S. Congress.</p>
<p>I thought about this. Comparing our culture to Japanese culture. I considered the type of humility he must take on to apologize setting aside honor, pride, and "face". He didn't just admit he was wrong. He apologized.</p>
<p>Normally I hold little regard for someone who apologizes to me. In business, and in the military and apology is a sign of weakness. I think this time, it is different. I think an apology (x2) from Toyoda may earn him some respect. His apology (x2) may just be a sign of his strength. Can't say there is any forgiveness for his callous behavior, and pathetic PR management; his lies, and his cover ups. He has a total disregard for human life an suffering. But still. On that one thing, I'm impressed.</p>
<p>Why? Toyota is a profit seeking company and they are attempting to minimize damage. Who cares if a single person apologizes. The company is populated by people who do a job in order to make money. Toyota was very good at it, but it might just bite them this time.</p>
<p>From news articles, seems like things were already pretty bad when he stepped in not long ago. Sounded like too little time for him to start turning things around. This debacle definitely gives him free reins tho, to change anything.</p>
<p>what does this have anything to do with MBA?</p>
<p>MBA stands for Master of Business Administration.</p>
<p>Akio Toyoda (豊田章男, Toyoda Akio?, born May 3, 1956; Nagoya) is the president and CEO of Toyota Motor Corporation and is a grandson of founder Kiichiro Toyoda. He is the eldest son of Shoichiro Toyoda.</p>
<p>He joined Toyota in 1984, becoming a board member in 2000 and was made an executive vice president in 2005, taking charge of Japanese sales and overseas operations. In January 2009 he was announced as the forthcoming president of the company. On June 23, 2009 he was confirmed as the new president of the company, along with four new executive vice presidents and eight new board members. The previous president and CEO Katsuaki Watanabe became vice chairman replacing Katsuhiro Nakagawa.</p>
<p>He received his MBA from Babson College in the United States.</p>
<p>—Wikipedia</p>
<p>A little intellectual curiosity is needed in order to obtain and MBA. A case study of a current event is a golden opportunity to learn about the business world. Graduate school is more about self study and shared experience than it is about being lectured to and regurgitating elementary definitions. </p>
<p>I brought it up because I was curious about Toyoda. I’m also curious about what my peers think of this development. How would you have managed the Toyota Recalls and subsequent public relations nightmare?</p>