Managing the Ford Way
Managing: The Ford Way
Managing: The Ford Way Henry Ford was a visionary like no other in his time. He practiced management and development methods that, at the time, were far ahead of other businesses. Formal ideas of management planning, organization, leading, and controlling (the four functions of management) had not yet been developed. Nonetheless, he paved the way for innovation and the ultra-competitive automobile industry that exists today. Throughout history the Ford Company has had its share of challenges and opportunities, but following the fore mentioned functions of management (and occasionally reinventing the wheel) Ford has secured its place among the top auto manufacturers through the last 100 years. This examination will explore the four basic functions of management in relation to the Ford Motor Company. More specifically, how internal and external factors affect the four functions of management, some of the major factors that affect the four functions of management, which are: globalization, technology, innovation, diversity, and ethics; and Ford’s use of delegation to manage these functions.
A Little Ford History
The Beginning Innovator, industrialist, and outdoorsman: Henry Ford started it all (Ford Motor Company INC., 2010). Henry Ford was born in 1863 in an area of Michigan that later would become Dearborn. He was the oldest of six children and came from an agricultural background. In the 1890s he showed promise as an engineer at the Edison Illuminating Company and rapidly advanced to chief engineer in 1893. That year Henry’s only son Edsel was born. In the late 1890s Henry Ford became friends with Tomas Edison. The friendship lasted more than 30 years, and they continually inspired, encouraged, and contributed to each other’s work (Ford Motor Company INC., 2010). Henry’s first vehicle was the Quadricycle. It afforded him the opportunity to vacate his job at Edison Illuminating, and in 1899 he helped form the Detroit Automobile
Managing: The Ford Way Henry Ford was a visionary like no other in his time. He practiced management and development methods that, at the time, were far ahead of other businesses. Formal ideas of management planning, organization, leading, and controlling (the four functions of management) had not yet been developed. Nonetheless, he paved the way for innovation and the ultra-competitive automobile industry that exists today. Throughout history the Ford Company has had its share of challenges and opportunities, but following the fore mentioned functions of management (and occasionally reinventing the wheel) Ford has secured its place among the top auto manufacturers through the last 100 years. This examination will explore the four basic functions of management in relation to the Ford Motor Company. More specifically, how internal and external factors affect the four functions of management, some of the major factors that affect the four functions of management, which are: globalization, technology, innovation, diversity, and ethics; and Ford’s use of delegation to manage these functions.
A Little Ford History
The Beginning Innovator, industrialist, and outdoorsman: Henry Ford started it all (Ford Motor Company INC., 2010). Henry Ford was born in 1863 in an area of Michigan that later would become Dearborn. He was the oldest of six children and came from an agricultural background. In the 1890s he showed promise as an engineer at the Edison Illuminating Company and rapidly advanced to chief engineer in 1893. That year Henry’s only son Edsel was born. In the late 1890s Henry Ford became friends with Tomas Edison. The friendship lasted more than 30 years, and they continually inspired, encouraged, and contributed to each other’s work (Ford Motor Company INC., 2010). Henry’s first vehicle was the Quadricycle. It afforded him the opportunity to vacate his job at Edison Illuminating, and in 1899 he helped form the Detroit Automobile
References: Bateman, T.S., & Snell, S.A. (2009). Management: Leading & Collaborating in a Competitive World. Retrieved May 10, 2010, from https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary2/content/eReader.aspx#ch01lev1sec3 Delegation. (2010). In BusinessDictionary.com. Retrieved May 16, 2010, from http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/delegation.html Ford Motor Company INC.(2010). Innovator, Industrialist, Outdoorsman: Henry Ford Started It All. Retrieved May 13, 2010, from http://www.ford.com/about-ford/heritage/people/henryford/650-henry-ford