Marchionne sets new work ethic for Chrysler

More subtle changes were made at Chrysler headquarters. The Chrysler building is the second largest office complex in the U.S., after the Pentagon. Marchionne said that he will not move into the executive offices at Chrysler, which he once described as a "mausoleum." New telephone short codes were issued to executives so they could have instant contact with the head office in Turin, Italy.

This lightening change has left some Chrysler employees in dismay. They have already lived through German management with Daimler, and now a new Italian style of leadership.

Anyone who has worked for a well-run auto dealership knows this style of management well. Most dealerships are tightly run with the owner calling in to his managers each day for that day's sale numbers. Managers' livelihood depend on meeting monthly quotas set for the dealership, as do the livelihoods of the sales persons. It's a highly intense and performance-based work ethic. We can guess that this style of management will emanate from Marchionne himself. Marchionne might want to send his executives to work in one of his best-run dealerships to see first-hand what is expected of them.

Do you believe that Marchionne's style of leadership will succeed?