Technoloy, Supply Chain and Database: Ford Motor Company
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Choose a publicly held corporation from an industry in which you are familiar. Conduct research on the organization using the Internet, the Library, and other credible sources.
Organization needs to include the following:
1. Analyze how people, information, and information technology help the company remain competitive in industry.
2. Analyze Porter's Five Forces Model in relation to competition within the industry of that corporation.
3. Evaluate how supply chain management systems, enterprise resource planning systems, and customer relationship management systems, are currently used, or could be used, within the organization.
4. Evaluate how a database management system and a data warehouse are currently used, or could be used, within the organization.
5. Analyze how the four agent-based technologies are currently used, or could be used, within the organization.
6. Evaluate which of the nine major e-commerce business models are currently used, or could be used, within the organization, and synthesize how these could work together to create value within the organization.
7. Analyze how the organization could benefit from using the systems development life cycle (SDLC), and what type of projects within the organization could benefit from this process.
8. Evaluate the phases of business continuity planning as they relate to the organization.
9. Analyze how the organization could use emerging trends such as Bluetooth, WiFi, cell phones, and RFID to remain competitive in the future.
10. Evaluate the measures the organization takes, or could take, to ensure information is protected and free from security vulnerabilities.
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Solution Summary
Analyzes Ford Motor Company on technology, supply chain management and database management using Porter's model.
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A good example of a publicly held company that uses information systems to stay competitive is Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F). There has an aggressive corporate strategy that relies on information systems both within the organization and as product offerings to customers.
A step-by-step approach is as follows:
1. Analyze how people, information, and information technology help the company remain competitive in industry.
-In 2003, Ford was named the one of "100 Best Places to Work in IT" by ComputerWorld
http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=15714
Companies were ranked on a variety of factors, including the company' training and development programs, advancement opportunities, turnover rates, pay and benefits, and the hiring and advancement of women and minority staff. What this says is Ford, an automotive company, is committed to hiring and mentoring its IT employees and they are important to how the company operates.
-The company is also committed to improving their communications and systems processes. This Microsoft case study shows how Ford uses Microsoft products to increase corporate communication: (http://bit.ly/rNA1VY)
-Externally, Ford makes it's IS technology assessable to the public. The Ford Technology Information Centre (http://technology.fordmedia.eu ) publishes a technology newsletter as well as video and multimedia about the technology its engineers are working on.
-Ford also uses information systems to communicate with customers at its The Ford Story website (http://social.ford.com/) Here customers can discuss Ford customer experiences.
*The automotive market is extremely competitive, so Ford is using information technology and systems to try and differentiate itself as a leading company. Discuss these and other examples of how Ford uses technology and information systems
2. Analyze Porter's Five Forces Model in relation to competition within the industry of that corporation.
Porter's Five Forces can be intimidating at first, but the concept is simple: What's Ford's competitive power?
Read this description of the Five Forces: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_08.htm
Starting with the first force:
i. Supplier Power: Basically, how much power do suppliers have?
To decrease cost and increase efficiency, Ford develops a close relation with its suppliers. This way they ...
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