Change Management within Ford Motor Company. How can Change Management be used within Ford Motor Company for its success and to overcome its current crisis? (Using Ford India as an example case)

Change Management at the Ford Motor Company

Troubled Times at the Auto Giant

Prepared by Date

Abstract

The times we live in are periods of transformation and enormous change While revolutionary change has frequently occurred in the last three centuries , its manifestation in the modern era is distinguished by far greater rapidity and complexity . Indeed , the dimensions change has assumed in present times make its accurate forecasting and effective management integral to the survival and growth of huge and seemingly impregnable organizations

Ford Motors , an iconic American car

making giant has , in recent years gone through terribly troubled times . Beset with excess capacity shrinking market share and huge losses it is today in a position of immense vulnerability , in a situation from where the road to recovery will be long and tortuous . Widespread expert opinion feels the company 's current troubles to have arisen from its inability to change with the times and to cope with new world realities (Heller , 2004

This dissertation aims to delve into the issue of change management within the company , with particular reference to its Indian operations It strives to investigate the reasons behind the company 's enormous slippage and to arrive at ways and means that could help the company to recover lost ground and regain its position of profitability and industry leadership

Acknowledgements

I need to record my appreciation to the three gentlemen , Simon Warman Freed , Ravi Kapoor and Rajat Shah who agreed to be interviewed and to take time out for my questioning . Their perceptive and knowledgeable comments about the auto industry have helped in validating the information accessed from study of the primary and secondary material

Table of Contents

Serial Details Page

Abstract 2

Acknowledgements 3

1 Chapter 1 5

Introduction 5

a Overview 5

B Detailing of Problem 6

c Objectives 7

d Purpose of Study 8

e Limitations of Study 8

2 Chapter 2 10

Literature Review 10

a The Importance of Change 10

b Ford Motors : The Past and the Present 10

c Toyota 14

d Ford in India 20

e Change Management at Ford Motors 30

3 Chapter 3 36

Research Methodology 40

a Overview 40

b Framing of Research Questions 40

c Methodology 41

d Choice of Primary Research Methodology 41

e Factors to be considered in Framing of Research procedure 46

4 Chapter 4 50

Findings and Analysis 50

5 Chapter 5 55

Conclusions and Recommendations 55

Appendices 57

References 67 Chapter 1

Introduction

a . Overview

Managers are witnessing the broadest and most significant of changes ever in the modern era . Rapidly changing technologies , the emergence of low cost and high skill production centres in distant countries increasing global competitiveness , both in technology and in cost , the economy 's roller-coaster ride , constant mergers and acquisitions among companies , upsizing , downsizing and resizing are posing new challenges that need to be forecasted with accurate prescience , met with thought and appropriate strategy , and overcome successfully for companies to survive and prosper . Many of these changes come suddenly and...