Yep. You can tell in the product when KTMs went from being rider's bikes built by experienced engineers (990 LC8s) who took it as read that the rider would know how to ride the thing and turn a spanner if necessary and they just left you to get on with it, to two-wheeled fashion accessories designed by accountants and loaded with unnecessary and unreliable tech (the first 1290 Advs) that tried to ride the thing for you.
That's all very well, but developing new models requires a lot of work. Designing, testing, styling, specifying and productionising every part is a huge task. Electronics too. And arranging for sub-contractors to make and supply the right parts is another big job. There have to be enough staff to get all this done, as otherwise there won't be new models, or they will be full of unresolved problems. Actually bolting the bits together on the production lines is the simple part, especially if it is mainly done by robots.
Yeah totally agree, the article I read mentioned too many middle management employees, so they plan on reducing them, many companies fall into that trap. I’ve worked for companies that needed to cut back, so made some of the workforce redundant, then ended up with loads of mangers managing less people. It’s amazing that companies don’t realise the effect of that before they do it. Non productive mangers can be a big financial drain. I’ve worked with quite a few that are bloody useless and a total waste of money
