The Corporate Operations segment encompasses management and other functional activities such as group financing, asset management, information technology, collection, personnel, and accounting services.

FORBES: #444 Talanx

Now the emphasis is on integrated general management and problem-solving across functional silos.

WSJ: Managing in Asia: China Eyed as Next Educational Frontier; John A. Quelch: China Europe International Business School

As a result of this shift, career paths today are less geared towards filling the few remaining general management positions, and instead focus on functional specialization.

FORBES: It's Time To Bring Back The General Manager

Kellogg's general management focus gave me an excellent understanding of each functional area, the unique concerns of the CEO and those of the Board of Directors.

WSJ: Northwestern University

The cross-functional concept, which would become a tenet of Ghosn's management style, worked brilliantly, putting the South American business in the black in two years.

FORBES: On The Cover/Top Stories

However, companies can take steps to give their people more general management experience, which may help them avoid the narrowness of functional specialization.

FORBES: It's Time To Bring Back The General Manager

Overall this is a great cross functional success with the teams of software development, sustainability organization and facility management in energy savings and energy efficiency initiations.

FORBES: The Green Green Grass of SAP