MSc Management: Leading Through Digital Disruption - Ford Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Ford's digital transformation journey, examining the company's response to digital disruption. It delves into the case for change, outlining the technological advancements, threats, and objectives driving Ford's digital strategy, including smart connected vehicles and the implementation of technologies like AI and C-V2X. The report captures insights into Ford's approach to market evaluation, competitor analysis, and partnerships, highlighting how the company leverages data and AI to make fast decisions and acquire talent. It also explores the creation of a digital-ready culture, emphasizing practices that promote innovation, stability, and customer-centricity. Furthermore, it covers how Ford steers collaboration, utilizing various technological tools to enhance decision-making and project management. The report concludes by assessing leadership selection and its role in driving the digital transformation, offering valuable insights into Ford's strategic initiatives to maintain a competitive edge in the automotive industry.

Leading through
Digital disruption

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK1.............................................................................................................................................1
Case for change...........................................................................................................................1
TASK2.............................................................................................................................................2
Capturing insights.......................................................................................................................2
TASK3.............................................................................................................................................3
Make fast decisions.....................................................................................................................3
TASK4.............................................................................................................................................4
Acquire and engaging talents......................................................................................................4
TASK5.............................................................................................................................................5
Create digital ready culture.........................................................................................................5
TASK6.............................................................................................................................................5
Steer collaboration......................................................................................................................5
TASK7.............................................................................................................................................6
Selection of leader.......................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
In today's scenario, digital disruption is continuously occurs. So for staying, business
have to undertake or make preparation for disruptive changes which have impact on productivity
and performance of company and also disruption are occurs by their own transformation. So for
this leader have clear and right roadmap for development of their firm by digital strategy. So
there must be proper understanding for evaluation of marketplace for aim of identify competitive
advantage which leads to increase in brand image of company (Matzler and et. al., 2018).
In this report, Ford which is American multinational auto maker which have its
headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, US. The company is deals in commercial vehicles and auto-
mobiles under brand of Ford and mostly luxury cars which are under the Lincoln brand.
This report covers various tasks such as Case of change which the company is going
through digital transformation and threats which is faced with objectives of organisation. In
addition there is capture insight about macroeconomic trends, partners and its competitors. There
is also decisions which are undertaken for acquiring and engage talents which are selected by
leaders.
TASK1
Case for change
Ford are having the digital transformation approach in the context of their technological
advancement which are moving within the smart connected vehicles, which will boost up their
product development and becoming more fit as a company on costs, CEO Jim Hackett in the
duration of 100 days at work in ford, they commit and betting on the strategy which relates with
the company efficiency and cost saving to invest in the future (Bolton, Chapman and Mills,
2019). Technologies such as 3D printing, robotics, big data and virtual reality will implement in
the factories of ford in future with now they are working on new technology called C-V2X or
cellular vehicles to everything they are basically moving towards the self driving cars by
including the radars and cameras in it.
The threats that is facing by the ford industry are new entry of firms with high technological
aspects they will going to compete with the ford in respect to their product strategies. Because
this industry are dealing internationally they engage with aggressive competitors like Honda,
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Tesla, Nissan , Volkswagen, and the other threats are fluctuating oil prices which will impact the
organisation like ford through reduction in sales process.
The objective that ford want to achieve through their digital transformation is that: To improve
the services value of ford by which they will cater the new customers as well. By this digital
transformation ford having the intention to built the internal collaborations examples are
company intranet use to improve the documents processes, having the main objectives is to
create new business models through generating the innovative techniques ford are emphasis
more on that objective (Cappiello, 2018). To keep the competitive advantage over their
competitors by determining their upcoming strategies in the context of new innovation and try to
develop more from that techniques, like companies are coming with services like self driving
cars so right now ford are coming with this program in upcoming 2 years.
TASK2
Capturing insights
Ford industry due to their international dealing they have to think about their external
forces which relates with the competitors in respect of their industry type, they have to under go
through several changes in the market in which they are operating is that ford industry currently
taking more emphasis on their digital transformation by adding the value of new technology
which will be upcoming in 2 years the technological advancement related with product of ford ar
considered with the approach which defines the result of after detecting the change this process
of coming up with new technology will not possible and this is transactional analysis which
relates with understanding the market behaviour is that by understand the customer behaviour in
respect of change in market (Grinberg, 2018). They are investing in AI to reach the best possible
outcomes in the future through through their upcoming programs which relates with the self
driving car concepts , proper radars in the cars and this process is all done through analysing the
market trends what is basically required in the product in relation to that of cars by ford.
Techniques related with AI they are using this technique to cover the large area which will
depend upon the technological part there workforce will continuously going with several changes
according to the AI result.
The ford company is a large auto mobile manufacturing corporation with strong branding
image they have in the automation sector, here are the top most competitors which are competing
with this industry in respect of their operations activities are concern is that first a general motor
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company, popular with the GM across the globe, Toyota motors which are rely with the same
structure base as ford, Tata motors and other large industry. Ford company are having their
support partners which consists of Eddie Baver, Microsoft, Sony , Aquatica, Discovery Cove
they are relatively the partners of this automotive industry in relation to enhance the value of
investing with these companies in relation to built the customer retention policies as well through
maintaining the businesses with these partners (Ramakrishna, 2018). They are inducing in this
partnership with the motive to attain the better connection with the customers through offerings
varieties of product and services offering , hence ford is being indulge in other services offering
in respect to attracts the customers.
TASK3
Make fast decisions
The approaches that ford will use in fast decisions to quickly adopt the change which are
concerned with the by involving the aspect of process transformation which relates with the data,
analytics, machine learning and technologies which relates with new innovation through taking
the assistance of AI which will help the industry like ford in maintaining the operational
processes by inducing the new techniques of tools and knowledge this approach will assist the
auto mobile industry in generating the sources and taking the fast decision by adopting the value
of AI in it. Second step in the context of taking the fast decision by adopting the change market
is business model transformation, companies are considering the digital technologies to change
the value of tradition model (Kim, 2020). This process is basically defines how the value is
delivered by taking the customers into consideration through approaching them via help of social
media platform will make this company effective in taking the decisions according to their
product market processes.
By enhancing the domain transformation is that new technologies are redefining the
product and services and creating the environment to compete with the competitors which are
inducing in same industry type through their working structure or pattern on which they are
continuously working .by expanding the web services of ford they will more effectively perform
with the aim to take fast decisions by gathering the information by the customers in market about
their product uses and services if any change will needed they will comes up with better strategy
without any problem arises in the formation of new strategy which belongs to the services
provides by the ford in the market .
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TASK4
Acquire and engaging talents
Digital transformation is define as a concept which is becoming as mainstream which are
captured for completed the project in best manner. But, phrase has various different values for
each company and there is ultimately marks which are radically rethinking for success of
organisation by use of processes, technology and individual who are evolve in business
performance. There are various ways which is used by Ford for digital transformation which
helps organisation for utilisation for gaining success are discussed below: Obtaining employee buy in at all levels: Digital transformation is require for every and
each level of company by tech savvy leaders and also key decision makers. In terms of
Ford there is transformation of Ford Smart mobility. The goal have to build digitally
enabled cars by increase the mobility (Vagadia, 2020). Taking inventory of current technology stack: When decision makers and leaders are on
board the next stage of successful digital transformation is there must be full inventory of
technology stack which is involving by potential gaps and technical competencies. So
there must be customer relationship management which have there is better idea for
streamline and make functions which are more efficient. Generate digital roadmap and vision: When there is use of new technology there must
be requirement of explicit vision for which the digital tools will be leverage and there
must be execution of detailed plan all over the Ford. Optimising operations: There must be set of clear goals or methods of planning which
are explicit procedures which helps in reducing the time spent for improvement overall
workflows as by executing as by properly the clear goals which will lead for more
ultimately and efficient for creation of innovation technology.
 Consistently evaluate and also make adjustments: In Ford, there is continuously
evaluation and transformation of digital strategy in their vehicles as they evolved changes
which can make more crucial and also having consistent and continuously analysation of
essential tasks to long term successful of company.
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TASK5
Create digital ready culture
The leaders of many old companies they are wish for innovative and fast culture for
digital start-ups. Digital ready cultures is define as mutually sharing of reinforcing set of
practices and values which are enabling in high performance in their services for innovation and
execution in such a digitally enabling business environment forces. In terms of Ford there are
three steps for gaining digital ready culture which are discussed below: Build practices which are set as digital firm apart: When there is cultivation of habits
which are rapid for experimentation and self organisation in framework of data which is
basically drives in decision making process. These are such practices which may be
counter for organisation whose values, governance rules and structure are designed in
such manner which leads as stability (Olsson and Bosch, 2020). Preserve practices which helps in promote stability and integrity: There must be
appreciation of shareholders, employees, customers and regulators which are majorly
support Ford company. There is integrity and stability report which are consider as there
is in company. The values and ethics which are captured are open and also there is work
which are regarding the accountability, organisational location and so on.
 Reorient essential practices which are only optimised for pre-digital world: There is
speed and interconnectedness of digital world which are having demand for new
approaches as when customer are basically having obsession and focus on result. In
terms of Ford, there is focus on anticipating customer desires and experimenting
proactively which have been consider as de-lightness for their customer (Choudhary and
et. al., 2019).
TASK6
Steer collaboration
Over past few years there is nature of collaboration have been changed. The team
members are not performing in productive manner so from digital transformation there have
been remote work which are now become more widespread. So in terms for collaboration tools
which is used by Ford which helps in enabling individuals for contribution of decision making
and also offers visibility to leaders for their contribution. There is use of various technological
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tools for working on various projects such as spreadsheets, email of communication process
which are considered as efficient collaboration. There are some tools which are used for running
the projects in smoothly, which are helpful in attainment of specific expectations and goals are
discussed below: Cloud based technology: There are various solutions for software which are basically
stores their data in hard drive. So by this, there is large collaboration for respective
company as challenge as this leads restriction to computers for load of their own software
(Bentley, 2018). So with help of cloud based technology there is collaboration of various
platforms which allows company for uploading the data on cloud storage. With help of
this there is sharing of collaboration with their team members and with their stakeholders.
So for this everyone have to access all the information at same time which helps
company for eliminate problems which are faced by organisation. Workflow management tool: When Ford start work on digital transformation there is
good project management solution which are helpful for bringing all together. So for
remote collaboration there must be team is build which is effectively work for company
and they have open line communication with all times. There must be collaboration of
tools which are helpful in terms of working capability. Visual representation of workload: By help of management tools there must be visual
representation for find out the workload which have been arranged by having proper
arrangements of their priority and status. This visual representation is very helpful for
starting the work flow which have been done for accomplishment of tasks which are
basically have to be improved (Dong, 2019).
 Ability or capability for tack multiple project: There is aim for project management as
there have to collaboration which is leads as easier. So for this there must be removal of
barriers which are inhibiting collaboration, make in such manner which are build as easy
stakeholder and team member for tracking the various projects.
TASK7
Selection of leader
Strategy and culture in primary sector are at top leader which are disposal in their never
ending quest which are helpful in maintaining organisational effectiveness and viability. There
are various key attributes and behaviour in a leader which are in leader which are helpful in
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building good culture which are helpful in success of Ford as digital transformation. Some of
attributes and behaviours of leader such as they have the ability for delegate the appropriate and
relevant core responsibilities to their team members as by this there must be use of digital
transformation in appropriate manner (Bongiorno, Rizzo and Vaia, 2018). Leader have behaviour
as they should have courage in themselves as sometimes they have to raise their voice in front of
their employees with aim of new idea and also provide them feedback about the recent report.
Company is also strengthen the leadership skills and also fostering the level of dedication of
employees at their workplace for offering them variety of development opportunities.
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from above report as due to digital transformation organisation is
facing various cases of change which company is going through as there are various threats
which company is facing and also there are some objectives that company wants to attain by
digital transformation. There is also use of technique which such as artificial intelligence which
helps organisation for capturing the insights which are related to their competitors, partners and
macroeconomic trends. In addition there are also approaches which are use for fast decision
making for adopting the changes in its market. There are also informal and formal which are
useful for considering digital transformation. There are also various collaboration tools are used
which are helpful for contribute decision making process. At last there is also various key
behaviours and attributes of leaders are included which are helpful for success of organisation in
terms of digital transformation.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bentley, D., 2018. Timeless principles of taxpayer protection: how they adapt to digital
disruption. EJTR. 16.p.679.
Bolton, R.N., Chapman, R.G. and Mills, A.J., 2019. Harnessing digital disruption with
marketing simulations. Journal of Marketing Education. 41(1). pp.15-31.
Bongiorno, G., Rizzo, D. and Vaia, G., 2018. CIOs and the digital transformation: A new
leadership role. In CIOs and the digital transformation (pp. 1-9). Springer, Cham.
Cappiello, A., 2018. Digital disruption and insurtech start-ups: Risks and challenges.
In Technology and the Insurance Industry (pp. 29-50). Palgrave Pivot, Cham.
Choudhary, S. and et. al., 2019, March. Accelerating the digital transformation of business and
society through composite business ecosystems. In International Conference on
Advanced Information Networking and Applications (pp. 419-430). Springer, Cham.
Dong, J.Q., 2019. Moving a mountain with a teaspoon: Toward a theory of digital
entrepreneurship in the regulatory environment. Technological Forecasting and Social
Change. 146. pp.923-930.
Grinberg, I., 2018. International Taxation in the Era of Digital Disruption: Analyzing the Current
Debate. Georgetown University Law Center.'
Kim, B., 2020. Digital Disruption and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Library Technology
Reports. 56(2). pp.5-7.
Matzler, K. and et. al., 2018. The crusade of digital disruption. Journal of Business Strategy.
Olsson, H.H. and Bosch, J., 2020. Going digital: Disruption and transformation in software‐
intensive embedded systems ecosystems. Journal of Software: Evolution and
Process. 32(6). p.e2249.
Ramakrishna, K., 2018. Digital Disruption in Emerging Markets. In Strategic Marketing Issues
in Emerging Markets (pp. 179-188). Springer, Singapore.
Vagadia, B., 2020. Digital Disruption: Implications and Opportunities for Economies, Society,
Policy Makers and Business Leaders.
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