Fear-Based Leadership Worked at Volkswagen. Until It Didn’t.

Lean Blog by Mark Graban · Oct 6, 2026

In July 2013, on a test drive in the United States, Martin Winterkorn, the CEO of Volkswagen, noticed a paint imperfection on a Beetle. The paint was slightly thicker than the company standard. Less than a millimeter too thick, according to a VW source who spoke to Reuters. A difference you would not be able to see without a gauge. He stopped and lectured his engineers about the waste. This was 2013. Winterkorn was one […]

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