CalPERS vs. JC Penney Overview CalPERS investment program began on February 22, 2000 when they included JC Penney on their annual Focus List. CalPERS further exclaimed that due to declining sales and a deteriorating customer base they had lost confidence in Penney’s management. Subsequent to the release of their focus list JC Penney made numerous strategic decisions to revitalize and boost the value of the company. Penney forced their current CEO James Oesterreicher to retire. Next instead of promoting from within, they searched for new blood and hired former Barney’s CEO Allen Questrom.
However, in this fast-paced, innovative world, no company is safe from competition. In 2007, Ford became the third-ranked automaker in U.S. sales, falling from the second-place automaker ranking for the first time in 56 years (Wikipedia). Ironically, one year later, Ford is reaching out to their consumers, employees, dealers, and retirees with their “Drive One” campaign. The “Drive One” campaign is seeking to educate their audience, change their attitude and encourage behavior. These objectives can be exhibited in the KAB Model: knowledge, attitude and behavior.
Why did Ford establish a luxury car division? In 1919, Mr Edsel Ford succeeded his father Mr Henry Ford as president of the company, although Henry still kept a hand in management. While prices were kept low through highly efficient engineering, the company used an oldfashioned personalized management system, and neglected consumer demand for improved vehicles. So, while four-wheel brakes were invented by ArrolJohnson they did not appear on a Ford until 1927. Ford steadily lost market share to GM and Chrysler, as these and other domestic and foreign competitors began offering fresher automobiles with more innovative features and luxury options.
Introduction Toyota, the icon of operational excellence and pristine quality, recalled more than eight million vehicles in the six months before mid-February, calling into question everything we thought we knew about the Toyota way (Liker, 2010). The recent recalls have tainted Toyota, says Peter DeLorenzo, editor of AutoExtremist.com: "Toyota is in serious trouble, because now there are too many competitive models from savvy competitors — Ford and Hyundai for instance — that are presenting a real alternative to the consumer. (Healey, 2010) Perhaps even more troubling for Toyota is that the recalls uncovered glaring weaknesses in what was previously considered a model company with an innovative manufacturing process and impeccable reputation for quality. Toyota factories were famous for implementing lean manufacturing techniques and "just-in-time" production methods that kept part inventories lower than those of their American counterparts. Toyota also initiated a process of quality control that allowed any member of the assembly team to stop the production line if they noticed a problem.
Through this method of leadership, Jobs turned Apple into the most profitable business in the world, beating out Google in 2011. He felt like it was his job to tell his employers that their ideas weren’t good enough and to go back to the drawing board, instead of beating around the bush telling them that their work is good quality. This quality is really straightforward, Jobs was just concerned with working with the best and wanted to stay away from what he called the ‘bozo explosion’. Belichick wants to work with only
No Title In the article “Just Say No” by Bill O’Reilly, he writes about the bailout, or loan, that the major American motor companies Ford, GM, and Chrysler are requesting. He discusses the problem and states that the Federal government should not bail out the auto industry until the unions work out a deal that will benefit the companies, unions, and the American economy. He covers the economy and how it has suffered over the decades because of the business-people being irresponsible and running these large companies poorly, not just the auto industry. From the beginning to the end of the essay, one can tell that Mr. O’Reilly is against the bailout. He starts off reminding the reader about Nancy Reagan, the former first lady, and how she rose up against drug abuse in the late 80’s with the term “Just Say No”.
Greg Alter, assistant special agent in charge of the air marshal program says that the 280 number grossly understates coverage by an order of magnitude and the number is 4 digits but wouldn’t elaborate. In a post on its web site the TSA (transportation safety Administration) said it would not disclose the number of air marshals flying each day so as not to tip of the terrorists. He did go on to say that the actual number of flights that air marshals cover is thousands per day. The air marshal program started in the 1970s after a rash of hijackings and was expanded significantly after the terrorist attacks on 9-11. (Griffin, drew, Kathleen Johnston and Todd
Be relentlessly clear. All good writing instruction repeats this refrain: Show, don’t tell. In other words, illustrate your points with specifics. Example: You want to say someone in your company is a bad boss. Rather than making that general statement, say something like, “He got a promotion based on his assistant’s detailed reports, but then—despite the company’s record profits—denied that assistant even routine cost-of-living raises.” 6.
Ford Motor Company was knowingly making cheap Pinto cars that exploded upon rear end collisions. More than 180 people burned to death after the gas tank exploded and still Ford did not want to make any modifications to the Pinto. Ford’s current Mission statement reads, “Improve product and services to meet the customer needs, allowing the business to prosper and to provide a reasonable return for stockholders” (Ford’s Statement of Mission, Values and Guiding Principles). They believe that people are the source of strength, improvement, and teamwork are the core human values, and that products are the results of efforts and should be the best to serve customers worldwide. Profits are often the ultimate measure of how efficient we provide customer with the best products for her or his needs.
(Davis) Relevant Factual Information about the Problem or Decision the Organization Faced The collapse in industry profitability in 2007–2009 and the bankruptcies of General Motors and Chrysler were not simply consequences of the financial crisis. They also reflected the massive structural problems of the industry—most notably, too many firms with too much capacity chasing too little demand. The catastrophic decline in industry revenues and profits in 2008 promised a major industry restructuring. (Grant) Explanation of Relevant Concepts, Theories and Applications Derived from Course Materials A SWOT analysis can work to generate effective solution for Ford and the auto industry: Strengths Strong position in US market. Ford is the second largest automaker in US, the second largest vehicle market in the world.