Scientific Management, Hollywood. Hollywood, Scientific Management

In an interesting piece in The New York Times, Laura M. Holson takes a look at the continued integration of Universal into the folds of GE's NBC Universal, and Bob Wright's in depth interest in how it works (see article).

Known for a very organized and systematic operating model, employing "Six Sigma," GE is bringing that discipline into the film studio and this article examines that impact on marketing and operations. With an $800 million operating budget that includes production and marketing costs, GE is interested in understanding the rationale for salaries, marketing spends and budgets.

In the most interesting thought to arise from the article, Wright pepper Stacey Snider, Universal Pictures' chairwoman, "with questions about how the studio greenlights movies." Perhaps he can let the rest of the world understand too.