School of Graduate Studies
MA HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
21st October to 7th November 2014.
Assignment 1-Evening
GBS 630: HUMAN RESOURCE PLANNING
Instructions:
Carefully read through the case and understand the issue at hand before attempting to answer.
The solution must be printed, spiral bound and in 1.5 line spacing in Times New Roman hand writing with Harvard referencing method.
Submission is before or on the 7th November 2014 by 18hrs GMT
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan.
Ford Motor Company has been one of the most prominent automobile producers in the world for almost 100 years. Founded by Henry Ford and eleven business associates in 1903, Ford Motor Company pioneered the moving assembly line, in which workers remained in place performing the same job on each automobile that came down the line. Henry Ford’s vision was the production of cars that were affordable to the masses.
Today, Ford’s product lines include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo. Despite the proliferation of nameplates, Ford Motor has been losing money for years, particularly in its North American operations. Ford produces more vehicles than it can sell and does so under very difficult personnel conditions that are part of the industry’s history. Most of the company’s production employees are represented by the United Auto Workers. Generous conditions for retirement, benefits, and job protection, which developed when the industry was doing well, now weigh down the company operations. Another issue that has you concerned is the Premium Automotive Group (PAG), which makes the company’s Aston-Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volvo brands. Originally intended as the platform for the company to enter the luxury car market, this group loses billions year after year. Although the company has substantial cash reserves—over $20 billion— operating losses are steadily diminishing the company’s financial safety net.