Ford Motor
Gia Doan
Essentials of Management
January
Ford Motor Company
1. Which schools of management thought are illustrated in this case? There are several schools of management thought are illustrated in this case. First of all, classical school of management thought is mentioned. During the very first period of time of Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford, the founder of this firm, created a bureaucratic system. He separated company into smaller product groups and functional units. Separation is a feature of classical administrative school. Second, quantitative school of management thought is easily realized as school of management thought in Ford Motor Company. From 1940s to 1970s, in order to focus on the best ways to design cars, Ford built some quantitative methods. For example, one of Ford’s quantitative methods was computer modeling, which was one of features of quantitative management thought. In addition, system school is the other Ford’s school of management thought. There are a lot of brands which are belong to this company like Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, and Volvo. Moreover, contingency school is illustrated. “Way Forward”, a new plan of Bill Ford was created as a way to take part in global markets. To create this plan, Bill considered the way of doing thing in the past of company was not suitable in new situation at all. Last but not least, quality school of management is another one. To make better products and services, the leaders of Ford Motor Company have created many plans and made them real. 2. Bill Ford encourages his employees to “think like a small company.” How can a smaller company with fewer employees, fewer plants, and fewer paying customers be more innovative? As a part of bureaucratic system, separate business into smaller company is innovative. Comparing with giant firm, working with fewer employees, fewer plants, managers more easily
Essentials of Management
January
Ford Motor Company
1. Which schools of management thought are illustrated in this case? There are several schools of management thought are illustrated in this case. First of all, classical school of management thought is mentioned. During the very first period of time of Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford, the founder of this firm, created a bureaucratic system. He separated company into smaller product groups and functional units. Separation is a feature of classical administrative school. Second, quantitative school of management thought is easily realized as school of management thought in Ford Motor Company. From 1940s to 1970s, in order to focus on the best ways to design cars, Ford built some quantitative methods. For example, one of Ford’s quantitative methods was computer modeling, which was one of features of quantitative management thought. In addition, system school is the other Ford’s school of management thought. There are a lot of brands which are belong to this company like Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, and Volvo. Moreover, contingency school is illustrated. “Way Forward”, a new plan of Bill Ford was created as a way to take part in global markets. To create this plan, Bill considered the way of doing thing in the past of company was not suitable in new situation at all. Last but not least, quality school of management is another one. To make better products and services, the leaders of Ford Motor Company have created many plans and made them real. 2. Bill Ford encourages his employees to “think like a small company.” How can a smaller company with fewer employees, fewer plants, and fewer paying customers be more innovative? As a part of bureaucratic system, separate business into smaller company is innovative. Comparing with giant firm, working with fewer employees, fewer plants, managers more easily