Ford Strategic Audit

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For your final, group project, consider the Ford Corporation. Using the guidelines established in Chapter 15 of your text, produce a "Strategic Audit" for the Ford Corporation. As ...there is moreshow problem For your final group project, consider the Ford Corporation. Using the guidelines established in Chapter 15 of your text, produce a "Strategic Audit" for the Ford Corporation. As you produce your Strategic Audit, make sure to include all eight sections.

IFAS, EFAS, and SFAS tables are to be presented in Excel format, separate from the rest of the assignment that is to be written in a word file. As reminder two files are to be submitted: One Excel file (counting for three pages) and one word file (up to seven pages double spaced.

You will be graded on your knowledge of the software, on your ability to communicate in writing and present your arguments, and on your knowledge of math in building the tables. You will also be graded on your ability to analyze social, political, and financial data, on your ability to present and justify a set of solutions, and finally on your critical thinking and problem solving abilities in justifying your set of strategies.

About Ford

Ford is one of the largest carmakers and has a product line of eight different carlines which holds to be very impressive to the vehicle consumer. Some of these brands include Jaguar, Aston Martin, Land Rover etc. It is also involved in financing its products through its subsidiary Ford Motor credit. (www.yahoo.com). The major competitors of Ford are GM, Toyota, Daimler Chrysler, Honda, and Hyundai. Since few years it's facing lot of challenges and its financial performance has also gone down.
Corporate governance

Its members of the board as of early 2007 are:
Chief Sir John Bond, Richard Manoogian, Stephen Butler, Ellen Marram, Kimberly Casiano, Alan Mulally (President and CEO), Edsel Ford II, Homer Neal, William Clay Ford, Jr., Jorma Ollila, Irvine Hockaday, Jr., John L. Thornton and William Clay Ford (Director Emeritus). (Wikipedia)

1. Analysis of Strategic Factors

SFAS Analysis
Analysis of External Environment

Socio & Economic Factors
Ford has to identify the growing target segment and introducing new products and services to meet the ever changing need of the customer. They should grow their markets in emerging economies which are having rapid growth as compared to developed economies.
Thus there is an opportunity in emerging economies.
Technological Forces
Technology is continuously changing and improving. Ford had embraced the latest technologies, but now it has to do it more to provide superior products at less cost. Moreover there is growing trend of using fuel efficient cars and hybrid cars which has made the Toyota the most profitable automobile companies in the world.

Political Legal regulations
As an organization it should also be aware of economic, tax and business laws. One should also be aware of foreign trade regulations, attitude towards foreign companies as Ford is a multinational company.
OPPORTUNITIES
Rapid growth in developing countries
Trend of fuel efficient cars and hybrid cars
Opening up through WTO
Opportunity of Alliances with other Car manufacturers
Threats
Increasing government regulations
Strong competition
Technological changes and emergence of new technologies
Cultural differences especially in foreign country.
Rising Crude Oil

Strengths:
1. Pioneers in Automobile Industry

Ford is the pioneer in the automobile industry and its there in the industry since a very long time (1903). This is possible because of its innovation and also it has been able to create a "community feel" with its customers.

2. Strong Brands
Ford has got portfolio of strong brands including Lincoln and Mercury of the US, Jaguar and Land Rover of the UK, and Volvo of Sweden. Ford also owns a one-third controlling interest in Mazda. (Wikipedia, ...