Bill Ford never doubted that he could run his familys company Ford Motor Company.  He just had to convince others that he could.  It is not every day that an owner decides to throw him- or herself into the management pool and learn to swim with different strokes.  When Ford took over in 1999, many were skeptical and predicted a continued slide for Ford Motors.  However, Ford believed that his new strategy would once again bring the Ford Company to prominence.  The strategy was very simple-make more money selling fewer cars.  Even though this strategy runs contrary to others in the industry, Ford has demonstrated that unprofitable lines can be eliminated, costs can be reduced, more affluent customers can be targeted, and that a rifle approach can win over the traditional shotgun approach.  The key to Fords new approach is to surround himself with a team of executives that are decisive, can get along with one another, and are willing to take risks as a group.  His team was assembled from all over the world.  Different points of view were essential to the decision-making success of the group.  Ford believes in group decision making as opposed to the lone gun approach.  The new bottom line is profits and a vision for the company that makes sense.  Will Ford and his company make these dreams come true analysts are betting “yes” and have the stock numbers to support their vote. Case Source: Prentice Hall 2006.

1. Using a search engine of your own choosing, find an article about Bill Ford or James Patrick “Jim” Hackett and the job he did or is doing at Ford Motor Company. What evidence of team-oriented decision-making did you find in your article? Be sure to summarize any approach identified.

2. Go to the Ford Web site (see www.ford.com) and find two examples of team-oriented decision making at the company. Be specific in your examples and be sure to demonstrate how your example demonstrates the team-oriented approach.

It is important that you build your explanations/analysis on the theory learned.

Please apply the learned theory.

Please note that Ford was CEO from 2001 until 2006, when he was replaced by Mulally, who subsequently retired in 2014.  Ford continues on as executive chairman of the board.  If you having issues finding articles that discuss Fords management style, please feel free to discuss Jim Hacket and how he guided Ford. Most importantly, please rely heavily on the theory to explain.