Strategy Implementation - the Ford Motor Company - Case Study Example

Task Business Essay The Ford Motor Company seeks to rebuild, as well as, revamp its manufacturing strategy in order to achieve the overall goals of the firm, especially its financial goals as targeted and documented in the strategic plan. The infancy stages of the company in Michigan saw the company’s development and sustainable growth and expansion through innovative means of transportation. The company transformed from a small and minute business in the transportation business to becoming among the most successful automotive companies in the current global market. The company set a number of financial goals in order to meet its goals and objectives. In fact, the financial policies created by the organization enable it to adhere to the firm’s strategic plans as well as control the growth of the company. This financial policy determines whether the earnings of the company increases or decreases within a given financial period or fiscal year. The financial policies also incorporate a global product strategy whereby it leaned out its manufacturing operations in order to create a flexible manufacturing operation that saved on the costs of operations as well as resulted in the faster development of its products. In addition, this global product strategy also led to development of efficiencies in the delivery of the company’s new technologies especially within its core markets. This is majorly due to the worldwide integration of the automotive industry, which greatly influenced a variety of policies, practices and strategies that the Ford automobile Corporation undertakes in order to succeed in its operations and business ventures. The company also shapes its functional strategies in consideration of the environmental policies adopted by the United States of America. The US has growing concern over the protection of the environment by instituting development of policies that are more inclined to the conservation of the environment. In compliance of this policy, the Ford Corporation also transformed a number of its policies in order to be the leading provider of environment friendly products. For instance, the automobile giant initiated a project that developed vehicles, which focused on electric as well as hybrid technology all in an effort to create an alternative source of energy to power their vehicles. In fact, the company even stated on its website that it relies on a sustainable technology that advances to alternative fuel plans, as well as, lay out constructive plans in order to improve fuel efficiency in its products. In addition, the company also advances towards usage of bio fuels and electricity in designing their products. Strategy implementation at the company adopted incorporates the six sigma strategy whereby it follows a set of techniques, as well as, tools, which are handy in the improvement of processes of operations. Jack Welch became famous from his development of the six-sigma model, as it was his central strategy of implementing his business motives and processes. Jack Welch succeeded through the application of this model in his business strategies while at the controlling seat at the General Electric Company in 1995. The six-sigma model is a good way of creating synergies across the organization in order to increase the probability of the buy-in mission of the company, as well as, create an effective alignment of resources that would lead to increased productivity in the company. The alignment of resources as well as development of other concerned factors will make the business improve its functions and performance. The six-sigma model enabled the former chairperson as well as the chief executive Officer of the General Electric Company (GE) to turn the productivity of the company from 1981 to 2001. This transformation was very magical as it dramatically changed the productivity of the company by increasing its market value from a market value of $ 14 billion to $ 410 billion during the tenure of Jack Welch, all thanks to the use and application of the six-sigma model in the business strategy. The model entails embracement of a number of management strategies that bring about change and innovation in the operations of the business. In addition, this model also incorporates several styles of managing the organization, suggesting that leaders should lead rather than control their employees. The model also suggests providing these employees with more responsibilities and freedom while undertaking their duties at the company at all levels of the organization. In addition, other related features to this model include having a clear focus, consistency as well as following up to the strategies and implementation processes. The use of the strategy implementation plan adopted by the company brought about significant profits for the company. In addition, it also enabled the company to develop a number of strengths, which enabled it to become more competitive in the market, as well as provide it with a competitive edge and advantage over other industry players. Consequently, this was a profitable decision adopted by leader of business and corporation at the GE, however, the major weaknesses of this model are that it is too inclusive in that it gives employees more powers, which may encourage laxity and sluggishness in delivering business processes, and as such, lead to a decline in productivity of the company. The main factor that holds these organizational leaders in implementing these strategies sometimes is the type of employees they have, as well as the style of leadership that they adopt. A balanced scorecard is an effective method in evaluating as well as controlling the performance of an organization. This is because it allows the company to measure its performance against a number of factors as well as market forces. This in turn enables the company to identify its areas of weaknesses as well as identify areas in which it has strengths. This will enable the company to know and come up with workable methods and practices that would enable it to capitalize on its strengths in order to create market competitiveness and gain market advantages, whilst developing a competitive edge over other industry players. On the other hand, it will know how to tone down its weaknesses to a manageable level so that they do not pull down the profitability of the firm by reducing its effectiveness and efficiency in productivity. The company can use both traditional as well as modern models of a balanced scorecard in order to evaluate and control its performance in the business. The group can use the traditional model adopted by Kaplan and Norton to develop a balanced scorecard that will enable the business to increase its market competencies as well as develop numerous advantages to better its performance in the market. This entails incorporation of the four basic perspectives of a balanced scorecard, which include the financial perspective, the customer perspective, the business process perspective and the learning and growth perspective. The issue under observation and control under all these options or perspectives is the employees or workers of an organization. The learning and growth perspective will evaluate their growth and development from the time they joined the company, evaluate if they learnt new things, and acquired new skills during their tenure. The business process perspective will evaluate the influence that these employees have on the productivity of the business, through enhanced efficiency as well as effectiveness in its operations. The mangers usually argue that a good strategy should always come along with coherent action that results from an argument, as well as, incorporate a mixture of thought and action throughout the layout of the business process. The three main parts of a kernel that affects the process of business management and execution form the kennel process of business management and administration. The first part of the kernel is the brain. This entails the top-notch segment of the organization, which oversees the processes, and operations of the organization. In addition, this also incorporates the executive as well as the management teams of the organization, who bear the responsibility of ensuring the company follows true to its goals and objectives. The second division of the kernel structure is the germ, which is the second level of management. This includes the supervisors and other departmental managers within the organization and their main role is to implement the policies and decisions made by the top level of management. The third division of the kernel is the endosperm, which is the largest part of the organization. This includes the workers and other members of staff within the organization who put the management policies into practice. This also enables the corporation to undertake a number of business strategies in order to create competitive advantages and industry prowess. the leaders of these organizations also use other creative strategies in developing the company perspectives. Work cited Pekala, Nancy. "Changing Consumer Lifestyles Create New American Neighborhood." Marketing Matters Newsletter, (2008): retrieved on 18 Nov. 2013 from Read More