The modern perils of leading knowledge-based organisations

ndetails

Volksvagen | VW

Now, with the benefit of hindsight, it is a stupid surprise. How is it that a group of employees at VW could be so self-deluding as to wilfully falsify emission testing with the US government? Corporate culture is pervasive, and its role in famous value collapses like Enron, Arthur Andersen, Parmalat and now VW, are infamous.

This month’s InFocus features a Humatica viewpoint from RealDeals magazine on the root cause of VW’s issues and its lesson for portfolio company executives.

 

Hard lessons for the soft factors

> Go to article

Related Insights

Why a Fit-for-Purpose Operating Model is Now a Strategic Imperative
21 Jan., 2026 By Claudio Limacher

Why a Fit-for-Purpose Operating Model is Now a Strategic Imperative

In many organizations, strategy promises growth, efficiency, and innovation—but day-to-day execution tells a different story. Decisions drag. Silos persist. Accountability blurs. Leaders work harder without…

Read more arrowicon
Alpha Talks: Governance as the New PE Advantage | Michel Galeazzi, Partner/Co-founder at Evoco
28 Nov., 2025 By Humatica

Alpha Talks: Governance as the New PE Advantage | Michel Galeazzi, Partner/Co-founder at Evoco

In today’s private equity landscape, the classic levers of value creation are no longer enough. As markets evolve and competition intensifies, governance is emerging…

Read more arrowicon
Alpha Talks: Private Equity’s Most Challenging Moment? | Ueli Eckhardt, Partner at eevolve
20 Nov., 2025 By Humatica

Alpha Talks: Private Equity’s Most Challenging Moment? | Ueli Eckhardt, Partner at eevolve

Measuring organizational performance is difficult, especially in a way that is both systematic and genuinely useful for decision-making. In a recent Alpha Talks conversation, Ueli…

Read more arrowicon

Abonnieren Sie unseren monatlichen Newsletter und andere News Updates

Erhalten Sie jeden Monat Neuigkeiten und wertvolle Perspektiven zu Themen der organisatorischen Effektivität