Ford Motor Company Media Report Analysis - Case Study Example

Ford Motor Company Media Report Analysis Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Code: Date of Submission: Company overview Ford motor company is among the leading automotive companies globally which is situated in Dearborn, Michigan which is a suburb of Detroit. The company aims to employ people who are concerned with the social responsibility of the people (Watts 2005). The social employees should focus on improving on economic issues, political and social issues and ensure that marginalized people globally also participate in global affairs so that they can improve their wellbeing. Luis Ubinas said that the leader should focus on the social issues which affect the people by implementing the vision statement of the company. There are 12 visionaries which represent a number of people and organizations which the Ford foundation has supported as a way of improving the corporate social responsibility. These people come from diversity backgrounds. The system the company applies helps to improve the marginalized people in the society so as to improve their living standards as well. Ford foundation is using the anniversary of 75th century to explore the lives of minority groups globally. The 12 visionaries therefore help to reflect the corporate social responsibility of the people (CSR wire 2011). Corporate social responsibility helps to improve the way in which the company interacts with the society. This helps to improve the social wellbeing of the society by helping the marginalized people to also enjoy the social being with other people. The company has developed various strategies to improve its social responsibility in the society since the society determines the success of the company. Introduction Corporate social responsibility is one strategy which helps to link the society and the company. It is the way in which the company engages in the societal programmes (Moir 2001). For Ford Motor Company has applied various strategies in relation to corporate social responsibility and has managed to change its organizational culture in all its market operations. This helps to improve the economic condition of the company. This report will analyze the social model according to Europeans and compare them with liberalist policies of maximizing the profit. The Ford Motor Company demonstrates that it has applied the European model to maximize its profit unlike the policies of the liberalists. An organization which engages in corporate social responsibility creates good relationship with its customers and other stakeholders thus ability to attract and retain customers. The theory of invisible hand and global companies The main reason why national organizations aim to expand their operations into global market is to expand the operations thus improve their performance in terms of profits reaped. Faster rate of globalization is due to increased technology and also lack of federal governments to regulate the operations of their companies by imposing social responsibilities on them before going global (Michael 2008). The liberalists on the other hand neglect the role of promoting corporate social responsibility instead they argue that profits can be reaped from designing organizational policies to attract and retain more customers. The liberalists further argue that profit maximization can be increased due to market forces which determine the market conditions which might be favorable to improve the revenue of the company and also improve the interest of the public. Ethics/Social models of the Europeans Corporate social responsibility takes into account all ethical standards which should be practiced by the company. This includes being good citizens to the society and providing back to the society. It also includes engaging in activities which promote the society in terms of keeping the environment safe. Discussed below is the model for social responsibility. The European approach to social responsibility is practicing corporate social responsibility unlike the liberalists who depend on the market forces for the corporate social responsibility. The approach of the Europeans to social responsibility is described as the social model because it helps to promote the political and economic equality among people (Hildebrand et al 2011). It helps to improve the social life of the marginalized people in the society. This social responsibility model of the Europeans is implemented by taking into consideration the corporate social responsibility which enables the company to engage in societal activities. The liberalists believe in the transitional company approach and they neglect the corporate social responsibility. The liberalists argue that an organization can maximize the profits once there is a transnational business operation. Corporate social responsibility can be explained as the linkage between the company and the society through various programmes. It is the way in which the operations of the company are incorporated into the society to benefit the society in terms of social and economic developments (Chanin 2005). The European social model is the one which is more concerned with the social responsibilities of the society than the liberalists approach. Ford Motor Company has applied various strategies to improve the corporate social responsibility. The company follows the European model approach. Ford Motor Company’s corporate social responsibility Ford Motor Company is among the global companies which are known to promote the corporate social responsibility. The following are the ways in which the company has successfully implemented the CSR. To start with, the company has advocated the community to use their own natural resources. New first mapping project was launched to challenge the official maps. This technology made the acres of land to be visible by the society in their homelands (CSR wire 2011). This enabled the local community to make use of their own land and natural resources. Ellen Bravo also wanted to improve the economic security for working people to improve the lives of their families. He advocated for equal opportunities for women who were earning low wages so that they can sustain their families. Further, he advocated for family leaves, equity if payment in terms of salaries and also equity in working for part time (CSR wire 2011). This is one way in which families can sustain themselves. Ela Bhatt on the other hand helped to improve the lives of Indian women who were oppressed simply because they were female workers. Trade unions were developed which could help to fight for the rights of women workers and developed Indian Association of Microfinance which could bring women employees together so that they can improve their financial opportunities and improve their lives (CSR wire 2011). Education system was also improved. Steve Barr the chairman and founder of Future is now schools supported many students to further their studies. He forced the company to support schools to achieve their sustainability and sponsored needy students from various backgrounds thus improving the educational standards of the society. The company helped the troubled schools until they became stable to offer quality and remarkable education thus improving the lives of people in the society. There is also harnessing technology to benefit the society. Yochai Benkler who is the Co-Director of Berkman Center for Internet and Society advocated for the need of developing technology which could help to preserve information and also enable the society access information. The society could be able to interact and exchange ideas on how they can improve their living standards (CSR wire 2011). In addition, through technology the systems of production will be improved which will in turn improve the production systems which helps to improve the economy of the society. Uplifting the lives of the indigenous people also improved the social welfare of the society. Trucial Rivera Zea and her team advocated for various opportunities which were denied to people. They helped to develop pride for the cultures which were indigenous (CSR wire 2011). They developed International Forum of Indigenous women which aimed at improving the lives of women across the globe. Another visionary was Bryan Stevenson who challenged the fundamental poverty injustice in the society. He advocated for policies against injustice and discrimination against color in the justice system and also the financial stability in the society. This is because the poor people were denied their justice unlike the rich men (CSR wire 2011). This helped to promote justice equality in the society by observing equal rights of all people regardless of their financial or color background. In addition, Jeremy Heimans advocated for various century social movements. He develops strategies to ensure people interact well which can lead to social change by improving technology which can improve political and economical powers of the society. In addition, Elsie McCabe Thompson helped to open up show place for the museum. The museum collected many abstracts which can attract people to understand the culture of the African people. This enabled the American community and other communities to understand the African culture thus opened Africa to outside world. Finally, Martin Eakes helped to increase financial opportunities for the poor in the society (CSR wire 2011). He wanted to abolish unfavorable financial practices and promoted some soft loans like home loans and payday lending so that the poor in the society can also access financial opportunities to be entrepreneurs. In this regard he helped to bridge the gap between the rich people and the poor in the society. Recommendations Because Ford Motor Company has been influenced by the European culture of social responsibility, the company should apply proactive approach to corporate social responsibility. The managers of the company should take into account the social welfare of the society as a way of improving its social model responsibility. In contrary to liberalists approach, Ford Motor Company has the opportunity of contributing to the wellbeing of the society due to its background culture. In order for Ford Motor Company to proactively engage in corporate social responsibility, the company should take into consideration all the stakeholders. It should not only benefit the society but also the employees who implement the change. The management should also create good relationship with its suppliers and the employees so they can all benefit. Further, the company should sponsor some programmes in the society like swimming table tennis so that they can help to develop and nurture skills which could be in the society but due to lack of financial stability the skills cannot be identified. This will help to market the company and also create good relationship with different stakeholders. Conclusion Ford Motor Company is a good example of a company which has effectively engaged in the corporate social responsibility. CSR can be explained in two perspectives which are European social model approach and liberalist approach. The liberalists argue that profit can be maximized by engaging in multinational corporations and that social policy can be determined by market forces. The European Social model considers the corporate social responsibility which helps to improve the reputation of the company. Ford Motor Company has applied the policies of various visionaries to improve its corporate social responsibility like eliminating the poverty levels in the society, improving educational facilities and promoting justice among rich and poor people. In this regard therefore, Ford Motor Company has managed to improve its relationship with the society and has helped to transform the lives of the marginalized people in the society. References Chanin, J 2005, “The regulatory grass is greener: A comparative analysis of the Alien tort claims Act and the European Union’s green paper on corporate social responsibility” Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies, Vol. 12, No. 2, pp. 745-778 CSR wire 2011, retrieved on 3rd April 2014 from http://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/32153- Twelve-Social-Change-Visionaries-Are-Honored-by-the-Ford-Foundation Hildebrand, D, Sen, S, Bhattacharya, C 2011,"Corporate social responsibility: a corporate marketing perspective", European Journal of Marketing, Vol. 45, No. 9, pp. 1353 – 1364 Moir, L 2001, “What do we mean by corporate social responsibility”, Corporate Governance, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 16-22 Michael, N. David, M & Tara, W 2008, Corporate social responsibility, retrieved on 3rd April p from http://www.forbes.com/2008/10/16/corporate-social-responsibility-corprespons08- lead-cx_mn_de_tw_1016csr_land.html Watts, S 2005, The People's Tycoon: Henry Ford and the American Century, FT Prentice Hall. The attached article Twelve Social Change Visionaries Are Honored by the Ford Foundation 'Visionaries Awards' Mark 75 Years of Support for Courageous Leaders Worldwide Submitted by: Ford Motor Company Categories: Philanthropy & Corporate Contributions, Ratings & Awards Posted: May 04, 2011 – 09:13 AM EST   NEW YORK, May 04 /CSRwire/ - /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ - From Technology to Human Rights to Microfinance, Awardees Receive $100,000 to Advance Their Work In recognition of its 75th anniversary, the Ford Foundation today announced $100,000 awards to 12 social innovators who, through their extraordinary vision and courageous work, are improving the lives of millions of people. In a period of uncertain transformation in global society, politics and the economy, the Ford Foundation Visionaries Awards seek to raise the profile of leaders whose innovative efforts on the frontlines of key social issues offer pathways to improved economic opportunities and expanded political and social participation for millions of marginalized people worldwide. "We can't think of a more fitting way to mark our anniversary than to spotlight the people who continually infuse new energy and ideas into the effort to solve our most pressing social problems," said Luis Ubinas, president of the Ford Foundation. "They are thinkers and doers - people who pursue their vision with determination and a laser focus on impact." The 12 visionaries represent the thousands of brilliant people and organizations the foundation has supported since its founding in 1936. They come from diverse backgrounds and work in a variety of fields-from human rights to technology to education, both in the United States and around the world. "Through these awards, we want to highlight the unheralded work of thousands of courageous leaders whose lives are devoted to improving systems and institutions so that all people have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives," Ubinas said. "These 12 individuals represent the courage, commitment, and innovative thinking of all the remarkable people who work on the frontlines of social change." The foundation is using its 75th anniversary to explore the next generation of important issues facing America and the world, as well as highlighting the people and ideas making a difference today. The awards will help these leaders share their work with a broad range of new audiences, allowing them to promote their ideas and ensure that their insights inform and advance the work of other social innovators. From an indigenous women's rights leader in Peru to a political cartoonist in Kenya, the visionaries were selected for their pioneering work, exceptional leadership and the potential scale and impact of their visions. The recipients of the Ford Foundation Visionaries Awards are: Enabling Community Ownership over Natural Resources Alfredo Wagner Berno de Almeida Coordinator, New Social Cartography Project of the Amazon Manaus, Brazil For centuries, traditional peoples have inhabited the forests of the Brazilian Amazon, preserving the forest through their wise stewardship. Despite this history, they have been denied their rights to their lands and livelihoods. In the 1980s, anthropologist Alfredo Wagner Berno de Almeida launched the region's first mapping project challenging official maps by making visible for the first time the claims of traditional communities over the millions of acres of their Amazonian homelands. Wagner's groundbreaking initiative became the model for the New Social Cartography Project of the Amazon, enabling communities to make use of the latest technologies to bolster their rights over their own territories and resources. Helping Working Families Achieve Economic Security Ellen Bravo Executive Director, Family Values @ Work Milwaukee, Wisconsin Ellen Bravo, a life-long advocate for women, has galvanized the movement to bring low-wage earning women the benefits and opportunities they need to support their families. For nearly 20 years, Bravo ran the influential organization 9 to 5, which has been at the forefront of the fight for pay equity, family leave, fairness for part-time and temp workers, and an end to sexual harassment and punitive welfare laws. Most recently, she founded Family Values @ Work, a network of state coalitions that has already led successful public campaigns to adopt paid family leave policies in California, New Jersey and Washington. Empowering Women to Forge Their Own Futures Ela R. Bhatt Co-founder and CEO, Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) Ahmedabad, India Widely recognized as one of the world's most remarkable entrepreneurial forces in grassroots development, Ela R. Bhatt has dedicated her life to improving the lives of India's poorest and most oppressed women workers. A former parliamentarian, she founded the Self-Employed Women's Association-a trade union for poor, self-employed female workers in India with more than 1 million members. Bhatt also founded Sa-Dhan (the All-India Association of Micro-finance Institutions) and the Indian School of Micro-finance for Women, which together have created new financial opportunities for millions of women across India. Making Art that Provokes and Transforms GADO Syndicated Editorial Cartoonist Nairobi, Kenya Godfrey Mwampembwa, better known by his pen name GADO, started drawing as a teenager and found that he had a flair for raising awareness through satire. The most syndicated political cartoonist in Eastern and Central Africa, GADO has given form and voice to a new vision of democracy. Through his cartoons and satirical TV series, "The XYZ Show," he has increased awareness of social and political issues, encouraged public participation in discussions about governance and reminded elected officials of their responsibility to the public. With millions of viewers and nearly 120,000 Facebook fans just two years after its debut, "The XYZ Show" has already had an impact both in Kenya and throughout the region. Educating Today's Students for Tomorrow's World Steve Barr Founder, Chairman and CEO, Future Is Now Schools Founder, Green Dot Public Schools Los Angeles, California In his push to help struggling urban schools act as better supporters of student achievement, Steve Barr has leveraged public dollars to transform public education in California. In 1999, he founded Green Dot Public Schools and has since propelled the organization to become the leading force for change in the region, overhauling deeply troubled schools and helping them achieve remarkable levels of stability. In 2010, Barr formed Green Dot America, recently renamed Future Is Now Schools, to bring the lessons learned and successes achieved on the local level to other communities around the country. Barr was also a co-founder of the nonprofit, nonpartisan "Rock the Vote" campaign. Harnessing Technology for Social Good Yochai Benkler Co-Director, Berkman Center for Internet and Society Professor of Entrepreneurial Legal Studies, Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts Yochai Benkler is recognized as a leading thinker on technology and the law. Since the 1990s, he has been working to pinpoint the importance of the "information commons" -systems such as libraries or online communities that exist to preserve information for current and future generations-to innovation, information production and freedom. His award-winning book "The Wealth of Networks" analyzes our increasingly networked economy and society, and illustrates the impact of networks on individual and group collaboration. Awarded the Electronic Frontier Foundation's Pioneer Award, Benkler is an important voice in the current debate about Internet freedom and access. Lifting the Voices of Indigenous People Tarcila Rivera Zea Founder & Executive Director, CHIRAPAQ (The Center for Indigenous Peoples' Cultures of Peru) Lima, Peru Tarcila Rivera Zea started her teenage years as an indigenous servant in a small Quechuan village and today runs one of South America's most influential organizations for indigenous people. Over the 20 years since she founded CHIRAPAQ, she and her staff have worked to give indigenous people a national and global voice, secure equality and access to opportunities they have been denied, and develop pride for indigenous cultures. Rivera Zea helped create the International Forum of Indigenous Women of the Americas and other bodies working to strengthen the lives of some 25 million indigenous women across the region. Challenging the Injustice of Poverty Bryan Stevenson Founder and Executive Director, Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) Montgomery, Alabama Law Professor, NYU School of Law, New York City Every day Bryan Stevenson challenges the fundamental injustice of poverty and fights bias against people of color and the poor in the criminal justice system. "The opposite of poverty is not wealth-it's justice," he says. Through the Equal Justice Initiative, he advocates on behalf of juvenile offenders, poor people denied effective representation or wrongly convicted or charged, and others whose experiences with the criminal justice system have been marked by bias or misconduct. Driven by the belief that society's treatment of the disadvantaged is the real test of its commitment to social justice, Stevenson teaches law and has written extensively on criminal justice, capital punishment and civil rights issues. Building 21st-Century Social Movements Jeremy Heimans Co-Founder and CEO, Purpose New York, New York Jeremy Heimans is a next-generation leader who is carving out new venues and strategies for social movements and proving that the power of online communities can translate to authentic social change. He co-founded Avaaz.org, the fastest-growing online movement in history with more than 8 million members from 190 countries, and GetUp.org, a grassroots community advocacy organization that has become Australia's largest political group. Today Heimans leads Purpose, a global initiative that draws on leading technologies, political organizing and behavioral economics to build powerful, tech-savvy movements that can transform culture and influence policy. Bringing African Culture to New Audiences Elsie McCabe Thompson President, Museum for African Art New York, New York The Museum for African Art is one of only two major American museums devoted solely to African art, and it was Elsie McCabe Thompson's singular determination that made possible the opening of a high-profile showplace for the museum's collection. The lawyer and former city government executive was relentless in her quest to enrich the lives of all through a deeper engagement with African culture and art. After more than a decade of fundraising and planning, Thompson succeeded in establishing the $95 million institution on upper Fifth Avenue near Harlem, where New York City's cultural institutions and African, African American, Caribbean and Latino communities meet. Creating Financial Opportunities for the Poor Martin Eakes Co-Founder and CEO, Self-Help CEO, Center for Responsible Lending Durham, North Carolina Martin Eakes is a national leader in the fight against abusive financial practices-predatory home loans, payday lending, and exorbitant checking and credit card fees-that target poor people and trap them in cycles of poverty. Self-Help, the groundbreaking community development lending institution that he founded in 1980, reaches low-income families underserved by conventional financial institutions. Over the years, Self-Help has provided almost $6 billion in financing to more than 60,000 homebuyers, small businesses and nonprofits, and serves more than 25,000 mostly low-income families through seven retail credit unions. Standing in direct contrast to the predatory financial products that played a central role in the financial crisis, Self-Help's work demonstrates the importance of responsible and affordable financial products in helping low-income people achieve economic security. Reimagining the Way We Think about Urban Design Teddy Cruz Co-Founder, Center for Urban Ecologies Professor of Culture and Urbanism, University of California, San Diego San Diego, California Teddy Cruz was born in Guatemala City in an overpopulated old neighborhood teeming with people and life. Today he is an architect with a humane vision for metropolitan areas across America that breaks down physical and cultural barriers, and introduces social complexity and richness by mixing wealthy and poor, old and new, and public and private. Cruz is internationally renowned for his urban research on the Tijuana-San Diego border. His work focuses more broadly on traditionally overlooked poor, minority and immigrant communities and spaces, and has transformed border neighborhoods in California and communities in New York by creating affordable quality housing and public infrastructure. In addition to its Visionaries Awards, the Ford Foundation will host a series of global conversations throughout its 75th year exploring the next generation of critical social challenges. Read More