...Wiper. Robert Kearns tried to sell his Idea to Ford Motor Company but Ford rejected it but at the same time they started using that technology in their cars. Robert Kearns sued the Ford Motor Company for patent infringement in 1978 and the case was put to trial in 1990. Robert Kearns won the case against Ford and Chrysler. Detailed Analysis: I am going to look at this case from the two perspectives: Ford’s perspective and Robert Kearns’ perspective. 1970s was the time of automobile boom. The big three car manufacturers were thriving, with a very little or no competition from Japanese auto makers. The automobile industry was then in an evolution phase. New features were added to the cars to attract the consumers. As indicated in the movie, Ford was already trying to develop intermittent wipers, but Ford engineers were not able to come up with a working design. When the Ford Research and Development saw the intermittent wipers working, Ford should have realized that the Robert Kearns has the potential as an inventor and may help Ford with other inventions in the future. There are two strategic steps that Ford could have taken. 1. Assign the contract for the intermittent wiper units to Robert Kearns as originally intended by him. Ford always had the option to reject the units on the basis of the quality. It could have led to Robert working with the existing suppliers to produce quality products that are acceptable by the Ford quality standards. 2. Second strategic option...
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...James Ricky Araujo Sornrat Thawornyutikan Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 2.0 Industry Overview 4 2.1 Quantitative Overview 5 2.2 Evolution of the industry 7 2.4 Major Opportunities 12 2.5 Major Threats 12 2.6 Porters Analysis 13 Threat of Entry (Low) 13 Bargaining power of suppliers (Low) 13 Bargaining power of Buyers (High) 14 Threat of Substitutes (high) 15 Industry rivalry (Medium – High) 15 3.0 Company Overview 17 3.1 Company Overview 17 3.2 Operational Model 17 3.3 Company Evolution 18 3.4 Life Cycle 18 3.5 Growth Strategy 19 3.6 Financial Ratio Analysis 20 4.0 Customer Profile 21 4.1 Target Market 21 4.2 Product Usage 21 4.3 Purchase Motivation 21 5.0 Company Strategy 22 5.1 Resources 22 5.2 Value Drivers 22 5.3 Cost Drivers 23 5.4 Corporate Strategy 23 5.5 Business Level Strategy 23 5.6 Functional Level Strategy 24 5.7 International Strategy 24 5.8 Value Chain Analysis 24 6.1 Competitive Analysis 25 6.3 Effectiveness of Strategy 26 Volkswagen Group 27 3.0 Company Overview 28 3.1 Company Overview 28 3.2 Operational Model 28 3.3 Company Evolution 29 3.4 Life Cycle 29 3.5 Growth Strategies 30 3.6 Financial Ratio Analysis 30 4.0 Customer Profile 31 4.1 Target Market 32 4.2 Product usage 32 4.3 Purchasing Motivation 34 5.0 Company Strategy 34 5.1 Resources 34 5.2 Value Drivers 35 5.3 Cost Drivers 37 5.4 Corporate-level Strategies 37 5.5 Business-level Strategies 38 ...
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...Calvin Thompson Dr. Frias Paul Phillips 930-1050 Jason O’Neal Team 4 Land Rover North America Land Rover President and CEO Charles Hughes was facing a daunting business challenge in 1994: How does He make North America the number 1 Land Rover market worldwide? In this case study we will examine how he decided on positioning and marketing The Discovery and Land Rover in North America to create a buzz about its fascinating new vehicle. The history of Land Rover is extensive and very precise, Land Rover was initially started as a bicycling company in 1860, but it wasn't until 1947 that the first concept 4WD utility vehicle was born. Initially competing with Jeep, but it was advertised as a more utilitarian versatile vehicle. It was sold to military customers and even within 5 years of its launch, 80% of Land Rovers were going to third world countries were the vehicles functionality could be greatly appreciated. In 1970 the Range Rover was introduced and sort of set the status quo for what was considered tasteful and sophisticated, a symbol for the affluent population. There was a growing concern as worldwide sales from 1983 to 1985 were plummeting due to what was called the "Japanese Invasion", there SUV's were crumbling and putting a cap on Land Rover sales in their core markets, this combined with the oil crisis, parts supplies being restricted, and repair services not being up to par in foreign markets left Land Rover in a tight spot...
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...Lord Ashcroft International Business School (LAIBS) MA Marketing & Innovation Ford Focus Electric – The Future of Transportation Model Title: Marketing Design and Innovation Module Code: MOD001223 SID: 1236789 Academic Year: 2013/14 Semester: 1 1 Ford Focus Electric – The Future of Transportation SID-1236789 Cambridge Attempt 1 ANGLIA RUSKIN UNIVERSITY Assignment Coversheet Student Number: 1236789/1 FACULTY Lord Ashcroft International Business School ASSIGNMENT DETAILS Module Code / Occ / Year MOD001223 / C-1 / 2013/4 Module Title Marketing Design Innovation Module Element 010 - ASSIGNMENT 2000 WORDS To be marked by Submission date (by 5p.m.) 06/01/2014 Submission of this assignment agrees to the following: I understand that the piece of work submitted will be considered as the final and complete version of my assignment of which I am otherwise the sole author. I understand both the meaning and consequences of plagiarism and that my work has been appropriately attributed unless otherwise stated. I have not knowingly allowed another to copy my work. Mitigation – you have 5 working days after the deadline to submit a claim for mitigating circumstances. If there are matters or circumstances which have had a serious adverse effect on your performance in any assessment, you are advised to seek advice from a Student Adviser. Forms are available from the iCentre. WORD COUNT Disk included (tick) ASSESSMENT...
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...The Evolution of Management Theory Learning Objectives 1. Describe how the need to increase organizational efficiency and effectiveness has guided the evolution of management theory. 2. Explain the principle of job specialization and division of labour, and tell why the study of person–task relationships is central to the pursuit of increased efficiency. 3. Identify the principles of administration and organization that underlie effective organizations. 4. Trace the changes that have occurred in theories about how managers should behave in order to motivate and control employees. 5. Explain the contributions of management science to the efficient use of organizational resources. 6. Explain why the study of the external environment and its impact on an organization has become a central issue in management thought. A Case in Contrast Changing Ways of Making Cars Car production has changed dramatically over the years as managers have applied different views or philosophies of management to organize and control work activities. Prior to 1900, workers worked in small groups, cooperating to hand-build cars with parts that often had to be altered and modified to fit together. This system, a type of small-batch production, was very expensive; assembling just one car took considerable time and effort; and workers could produce only a few cars in a day. To reduce costs and sell more cars, managers of early car companies needed better techniques to increase efficiency. Henry Ford revolutionized...
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...This article is an introduction to the historical development of marketing, one of the major functional areas of a business firm. First, marketing is described and defined. Then, the evolution of marketing in the United States is described, touching on several major eras, including the simple trade era, the production era, the sales era, the marketing department era, the marketing company era, and the relationship marketing era. WHAT IS MARKETING? "Marketing is advertising, like those false or deceptive ads on television that try to get you to buy something that you don't really want." "Marketing is like those pushy car salespeople, or those salespeople that come to our front doors selling overpriced vacuum cleaners." "I hate those rude telemarketers calling at all times of the day and night." Some individuals think that marketing involves deceptive, high-pressure tactics to get people to buy something they don't really want. Those individuals are incorrect. While marketing usually involves advertising or personal selling, marketing (practiced correctly) should not try to get people to buy things they don't want, nor should marketers use deceptive or pushy tactics to get people to buy. In fact, marketing is really the process of developing products to satisfy customers through proper pricing, promotion, and distribution. The basic goal behind marketing is to satisfy the customer. Satisfied customers are much more valuable than customers who have been deceived into...
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...world changes and evolves. Some of the greatest Management Researchers and management developers are Frederick Taylor, Adam Smith, Henry Ford, Henri Fayo, Mary Follett and Max Weber (Pioneers of Management). These figures from our history have set the stage for management and developments now in the present and in the future. This research paper will not discuss how each of the previous men and women influenced or changed the science of management. One of the most prominent management developers is Frederick Taylor. His work was mainly in the late 1800‘s. Frederick Taylor had many ideas for researching new forms of management and applying these new ideas on subjects for more testing. His most prominent ideas were the “Time and Motion” idea, “A Fair Days’ Pay for a Fair Days Work”, and the idea of “Optimizing and Simplifying Jobs” (Frederick Taylor and Scientific Management). Taylor was also the first person to apply science to the idea of management. “Taylorism is also another idea that Frederick Taylor created that was backed by his own book. He used the scientific theory and other methods in order to produce proven advancements in management. The idea of “Time and Motion” meant for managers to hire people that would be the most efficient. Employees that were efficient got much more work done and were much more valuable to the company. “A Fair Day’s Pay For a Fair Day’s Work” is an idea that means if a person does not meet specific goals set for them in...
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...and presently the newest innovations, alternative fuel engines, and electric cars. Henry Ford built the first car in 1896, (Gale, 2003). and then revolutionized the industry when he invented the assembly line.(David Highfill, Matt Baki, Sean Copus, Matt Green, Jennifer Smith, Matt Whineland). This invention allowed mass production which lowered the costs of automobiles for consumers. The industry includes a number of car manufacturers competing with each other in their competitive priorities, and competitive capabilities to capture market share. The major players in the industry are, the big three US automakers, Ford Motor Company, DaimlerChrysler, and General Motors. The major Japanese players who are also a part of the US auto industry are Toyota, Nissan and Honda. Ford, Chrysler and GM account for approximately 76% of US passenger Vehicles, Toyota, Nissan and Honda, Subaru and Mitsubishi account for 18%. The European automakers, BMW and Mercedes makeup nearly 2%. (Global Foresight, Inc. 2006 Report on Industry Trends). Over the years several mergers and acquisitions occurred within the industry and contributed to this global view. Some of the mergers and acquisition are: Chrysler merging with Daimler-Benz, to form the new Daimler-Chrysler; and buying stake in Mazda, Mitsubishi and Hyundai, and Fiat merged with BMW and Mercedes and has formed an alliance with Daimler- Chrysler. Ford purchased Sweden’s Volvo, British Jaguar and luxury line Aston Martin. General Motors bought...
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...the Ford Motor Company Archives, With Reflections on Archival Documentation of Ford of Europe's History Elizabeth W. Adkins, Certified Archivist Director, Global Information Management Ford Motor Company Introduction: The Ford Motor Company Archives and the Story of the Company The history of the Ford Motor Company Archives is intertwined with the efforts to tell the story of the company. Both of these initiatives – the creation of the Archives and the telling of the Ford Motor Company story – began with the approach of the fiftieth anniversary. Company executives and the Ford family realized the importance of Henry Ford and his company in the development and progress of the twentieth century. They accepted the obligation to gather and organize the company's historical legacy to ensure that the broader story could be told. As a result, the first fifty years of the company (including its early international expansion) are fairly well documented and accessible to the public in research materials and in books. The historical record of the next fifty years, including the company's modernization and further international development under Henry Ford II, is less complete. By the early 1960s, for various reasons, the Ford Archives began to experience the "down side" of the up and down cycle that characterizes the history of American corporate archives. Most of the Ford archival holdings were donated to a nonprofit educational institution, Henry Ford Museum...
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...Henry Ford An Entrepreneurial Biography Throughout the birth of the automotive industry there were many attempts by assorted firms to create the first everyday automobile. However, this resulted in a vehicle that could only meet the expense of by the upper class. Due to the structure and strategy used by these firms the costs of mass producing their vehicles were too expensive for the average American to afford. It was not until an American named Henry Ford, revolutionized the automobile industry in the early 1900’s with his invention of the assembly line and his desires to produce a simple yet affordable automobile for the everyday American citizen. This biography will outline and examine the current industry, competitors and market trend at the time of the Henry Ford’s venture. As well by exploring Ford’s biography, we will be able to identify relevant concepts such as the Elevator Pitch, the 10x rule, the need for pain, competitive advantage, and the “3 C’s of leadership” used throughout Henry Ford’s prosperous career as an entrepreneur. During the early stages of the automobile industry, the number of firms that entered the market industry grew steadily from 1895 to 1907, peaking at 82 in 1907. (Klepper, 2001) It was apparent that this was a highly competitive market as the U.S was in the midst of the industrial revolution and to become successful a company would have to establish a competitive edge over...
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...dream for the company: to make North America the #1 Land Rover market worldwide. The Land Rover Discovery was a big success with over 2,000 units sold and 4,000 customers waiting availability. They were also planning to re-design the Range Rover and add improvements to the Land Rover Defender. Based on the growing strength of the U.S. SUV market, research suggests consumers are seeking vehicles that can help them have "experiences" while being practical, safe, reliable and luxurious. Competitive Analysis The SUV market included 30 products with prices ranging from $10,000 to $60,000 (1994). The market was concentrated with Jeep and Ford, with Chevrolet as a distant third. In the luxury segment competitors included: Mercedes, Lexus, and Infiniti (announced entry in 1996); Jaguar, Acura, Lincoln, and Cadillac (studying entry for 1997). Jeep Grand Cherokee was the best-selling SUV in America. Jeep was a very popular brand due to their heritage as America’s first-ever SUV. Ford Explorer was the second best- selling SUV. Both Jeep and Ford has multiple price points in their portfolios allowing for a large customer target. Chevrolet’s brands were depicted as “product quality with style”. Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee are the biggest competitors when it comes to customer perception of major SUV brands. They have higher brand awareness while Land Rover Discovery has the lowest (refer to exhibit 1)! Ford Explorer and...
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...This past week, I read three social media case studies on Lady Gaga, the Ford Fiesta Movement, and the Greenpeace protests against Nestle` in the palm oil controversy. After reading “Lady Gaga: Born this way?” I was impressed by her utilization of social media to successfully interact with her fans. Her passion for her time-consuming work and building a following on social media took over many aspects of her personal life, prohibiting her from being able to own a home or even have a boyfriend. Growing up, Lady Gaga took full advantage of her privileged upbringing by receiving the best education and seizing opportunities that supported her musical talents. Once she was discovered, she actively built her image as an artist through the Internet and social media. Her success was attributable to connecting and interacting with her fans through websites such as You Tube, Facebook, and Twitter. She was able to build a bond with her fans that has not been matched by any other musician or artist. I was intrigued by her success outside of the music industry that seemed directly related to the social footprint that she built for herself. The case study talks about the “360 deal,” where music companies now share a portion of revenues from all aspects of an artist’s business. While I believe this to be a great business model for the music industry, and Lady Gaga has been tremendously successful in this model, I think it is premature to imply that her reinvigoration of outside brands...
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...Nicholas Deters Professor Ardy Management of Productions and Operations BSAB 420 11 December 2012 Abstract In our current society technological advancements, competitiveness, strategy and production are paramount in business relationships since technology advancements continue to gain momentum every day. Competition is what continues to enhance business strategy and production as companies strive to produce the latest technologically advanced product on the market while providing the best service for customer satisfaction at the lowest cost at with a high production rate. In the past few decades computer technology has been responsible for improved customer satisfaction and enhanced business production, spiking the level customer needs and competition between many businesses such as Ford vs. General Motors, Macintosh vs. Microsoft, UPS vs. FedEx, Import vs. Export as the list goes on forever. Whether the competition lie between an automotive industry or the computer industry, any company with a competitive advantage gains the ability to outperform its rivals, providing the ability for company growth and increased revenue. In the business aspect, competition continues to drive the market primarily by producing high quality products at a high output rate by using productivity and strategic road maps to aim for high goals and provide for further organizational achievements. Competitiveness, Strategy, & Productivity In order for a business to succeed and...
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...Synopsis Ford is working to change its marketing strategy for developing compact cars. The Focus is Ford’s most popular economy car, and for years has been a low cost, reliable car. Ford is now beginning a new stage of the Focus by now offering the car with numerous additional features, resulting in a luxury car feel with the same Ford logo. With the rise in gas prices, and the current economy climate, Ford foresees a push from larger vehicles to smaller cars. This change in consumer preference stems from the superior gas mileage and reduced ecological footprint that compact cars provide. Currently, Ford markets the Ford Focus to the United States and the European market. The cars that they make for each market are different based on consumer preference. The current Ford Focus selling in the United States is more economically friendly, with the base model having a very affordable starting price. In comparison, the current Ford Focus found in the European market has additional features not found in its counterpart, but at a higher price. The 2012 Focus will have the ability to satisfy many different classes of people from its base model, the S, to the top of the line luxury found in the new the Focus Titanium trim package. By manufacturing the Focus for both the U.S. and the European market in Wayne, Michigan, Ford will save a plethora on development costs. A $28,090 price tag for a fully loaded 2012 Ford Focus sedan may discourage some consumers. However, one must consider...
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...ENTE 2534 ASSIGNMENT 1 Criteria ‘The evolution of selling: a study of historic and contemporary sales methods and attitudes’ Name: Arun Sehgal Student Number: P11271202 Tutor Marking: Edwina Goodwin CRITERIA | COMMENTS | MARK | Introduction/Conclusion..5% | | | Depth and Range of academic research, and evidence of understanding 25% | | | Quality of examples both historic and contemporary25% | | | Quality of individual analytical discussion- convincing? 25% | | | Correct format as outlined in module guide; adequate & correct referencing, free from errors…………………….10% | | | Reflection… …10% | | | LESS 5% IF NO CRITERIA SHEET TOTAL MARKS | | Assignment 1 Title: ‘The Evolution of selling: a study of historic and contemporary sales methods and attitudes’ Tutorial Day: Wednesday – 12 to 1 Full Name: Arun Kumar Sehgal Student ID: P11271202 Module Name: The Creative art of selling and negotiation – ENTE 2534 In the last two century professional selling has evolved dramatically through various methodologies, practices and models that have been created in order to show the old and new ways of adaptive selling. Selling models have been made in order to show the complexity of selling techniques determining the outcome of a salespersons approach to a client, making sure that previous mistakes are not repeated. Key impacts and changes happened throughout the industrial revolution and 19th century. Customer...
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