Case Overview:
It all started in 1979. Mazda, a relatively small player in the world automobile market in the automobile market at that time, wanted a string international partner in order to make the transformation from being a small niche player to becoming a major global automaker. At the same time Ford was also looking for a partner to help it design and produce smaller automobiles. The two firms agreed that they were logical partners.
Ford is a major USA firm and Mazda is based in Japan. Mazda sold 25 percent of its stock to the Ford and a collaborative arrangement started.
This case depicts about the success stories of the collaboration in the automobile industry by the Japanese and US firm though they were obviously competitors. One significant success story emerging from the alliance involves Ford probe and Mazda MX-6. There were swapping of resources and capabilities between the two firms. Mazda designers design the basic platform, engine and drive train for the cars. Mazda then design the outside of the MX-6 and Ford does same for the probe. Finally both cars are assembled at a factory owned by the two firms. Ford escort was another successful offspring of the alliance where again the Mazda engineers designed the car and Ford made it. But the alliance was not without spots. Mazda Navaho one of the offspring of the alliance which was basically build upon the on of the Ford popular product Ford explorer and build by the Ford makers. Ford made an opposite step by denying to provide the Japanese partners Navaho production to continue production of its own product line. The partner Mazda in addition fell into financial distress and Ford got the effective management control of Mazda and took some bold steps which eventually went against the collaboration.
Case Query Statement:
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Query Answers:
Query 1 :
Strategic alliance:
Two or more firms combined together to face the competitive situation. It refers to the combination of different firms for their mutual benefits.
Different types of Alliance:
Licensing
Franchising
Management contract
Turnkey operation
Shared ownership
Equity alliance.
The strategic alliance approached by selling Mazda’s 25% share to Ford motor company. So it was a strategic alliance and shared ownership type. Shared ownership alliance is actually one special form of joint venture.
Query 2 :
Before the alliance the two firms were in totally different market and they were also in different country but the industry was of same type. Both of the firms were aware about their future plan and lacking.
Proper explanation of the current situation, involving the type and extent of the current problems. And the merger will bring progress over the current situation.
How can firms minimize or manage the bumps, hurdles, or conflicts that often occur when firms join together in an alliance or partnership?
...a 25% share of Toyo Kogyo in November 1979, when a Ford subsidiary merged with the company). Ford imported Mazda cars and trucks, and in many ways treated Toyo Kogyo as a small car division.
FHI has a long history dating back to 1917 when Chikuhei Nakajima founded The Aircraft Research Laboratory, then it was reorganized in 1932 and was renamed the Nakajima Aircraft Company, Ltd (NAC) a major producer of aircraft for Japan in the years leading up to and during World War II (Subaru of America, n.d.). After Japan's defeat and occupation, aircraft production was forbidden by the Supreme Commander of Allied Powers, as a result, many of the aeronautical engineers started to work in the automobile industry (Odagiri, 1996, p. 216). NAC again reorganized and became Fuji Sangyo Company, Ltd (FCS), and began producing the Fuji Rabbit Motor Scooter. In 1950, due to the Corporate Credit Rearrangement Act, FCS was required to separate into 12 smaller corporations. On July 15, 1953, five of those corporations: a coachbuilder, an engine manufacturer, a chassis builder, a trading company, and a scooter manufacturer, merged to form what is known today as Fuji Heavy Industries. (Subaru of America, n.d.) In 1954, FHI began production of automobiles. The president of the company Kenji Kita searched for a Japa...
BMW having high market share in European and U.S luxury car markets, started facing issues with launch product qualities and also facing a fierce competition from Japanese producers. Currently the market share was still stable but the rigorous growth of Japanese producers would affect BMW in future. These Japanese competitors had set higher standards of conformance.
Ford Motor Company has been and till the date is known as the king of innovations in the automobile industry. Their research & development department and innovation of interchangeable parts in moving assembly lines resulted in extraordinary global extension for them. They are an old heritage who ruled and still doing impressive jobs in the global automobile market. Some prestigious motor brands are also owned by Ford.
Honda, like other automotive companies, also came to the conclusion of firming a joint venture. At the moment, Honda was already famous for motorcycles in UK, but it was less well known in terms of the automobiles. While Honda’s cars enjoyed reputation for good quality and durability, the import restrictions limited its success it the European market. However, the European market was essential for the company’s global expansion. With the joint venture, Honda could avoid the restrictions on the import quota by assembling cars locally, because these cars would be considered locally produced. Moreover, a local partner could assumedly offer a better insight of the market.
Ford Motor Company started the last century with a single man envisioning products that would meet the needs of people in a world on the verge of high-gear industrialization. Today, Ford Motor Company is a family of automotive brands consisting of: Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Aston Martin, and Volvo. The company is beginning its second century of existence with a worldwide organization that retains and expands Henry Ford's heritage by developing products that serve the varying and ever-changing needs of people in the global community.
The topic under review is strategic alliances. This particular form of non-equity alliance between firms in the same industry (competitors) is becoming an increasingly popular way of conducting business in the global environment. Many different reasons of why such alliances are occurring have been recognized. These include: the increasing globalization of the world's economy resulting in intensified global competition, the proliferation and disbursement of technology, and the shortening of product life-cycles. This critique will use Kenichi Ohmae's viewpoint on strategic alliances as a benchmark for comparison. Firstly, a summary of Ohmae's article will be provided. Secondly, in order to critique Ohmae's opinion, it will be necessary to review other literature on the topic. Thirdly, a discussion of the various viewpoints and studies, that have hence arisen, will be discussed in detail. Finally, conclusions will be drawn with implications for companies operating in today's global environment, together with suggestions for future research on strategic alliances.
The Ford Motor Company inspired a manufacturing revolution with its mass production assembly lines in the early 20th century. Ford and Lincoln are one of world's most well known automotive brands, most known for the Ford Mustang, and F-Series pickup trucks. Henry Ford incorporated Ford Motor Company in 1903 at Dearborn, Michigan. Ford Motor Company is known as one of the largest automobile companies in the world. (DATAMONITOR: Ford Motor Company, 2010 p. 4). Since 1980, Ford has been able to remove $5 billion from its operating cost (Brady, 1986, p. 8). The Ford Motor Company has around 181,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide using the automotive brands Ford and Lincoln (FMC Annual Report 2013, p.149).
Introduction: Toyota Motor Corporation is a very successful automobile manufacturer that is recognized globally. They have continued to obtain and retain a competitive advantage over their counterparts, despite recalls over many years. Regardless of recalls, Toyota has been quick to rectify their shortcomings and continue to lead the automotive industry with their innovative measures. In this essay, I will discuss key internal factors for Toyota. Within those factors will include Toyota’s core competencies, which are what they do really well in comparison to their competition, three of their strength’s, which will include their posture within the automobile market and their heavy focus on research and development, and two of their weaknesses.
With about 187,000 employees and 62 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and
Organisational change can arise due to a change in strategy and this begins with examining capabilities and the internal environment. This is portrayed in the Strategy diamond. Firstly through arenas the organisation can plan where they will be active in and which part to place most emphasis on for example technologies or value creation strategies. Only after determining this can they implement a positive change, leading to the next element, vehicles to get them where they need to be such as alliances. This can lead to change in management along with strategic partnerships, and the way managers transition to this change will determine if the strategy impacts on the overall organisation in a way that reinforces its purpose and goals. Partnerships indicate how an organisation can strengthen its capabilities by merging with businesses who possess the skills they lack. (Carpenter et al. 2010)
BMW soon realized that many threats impacted its market share in U.S. The Japanese auto manufacturers started building plants in the U.S. to deal with the increased U.S. demand at a lower cost than importing their cars. BMW's U.S. export situation was made even worse by the appreciation of German mark and additionally the higher German labor costs. As a result, the decision was made in 1991 to bui...
Henry Ford began a family automobile business in 1903; this was during the industrial revolution. This business has become the most famous automobile brand in the world. Over the years the business structure had adapted to changes in leadership, markets trends and the economic conditions. The Ford family still controls the company through multiple voting shares, even though it owns a much lower proportion of the equity