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Introduction

Influence of technological change in Ford Generally speaking, technological changes have an enormous impact upon business, resulting in new products and markets and new methods of production and distribution. Ford Motor Corporation, which is the largest motor manufacturing company in the world, is huge influence by technological change that impacts upon Ford's investment, innovation and leads to uncreased employment. On 2 Oct 2001, the Ford motor company announced that it would increase its share of ownership from 13.5 to 19.5 in Ballard Power System, which is the world's leading producer of fuel cell components; this will increase the company's commitment to the development of advanced powertrain fuel cell systems. Investment is the increase in the stock of capital over time, which is the second input into the production process after people; investment will serve to increase the productive potential of the firm. According to Wayne Booker, vice chairman of Ford Motor Company, their investment in fuel cell technology was extremely important to the future of the Ford Motor Company, and they had ...read more.

Middle

In order to have stand room in new electrical vehicles market, motor companies, such as General Motor, DaimlerChrysler and BMW is also developing the technology, which is new electrical systems and batteries. Process innovation is also a result of technological change at Ford motor. Ford will use Oculus CO to better connect design teams located in multiple sites that are using different operating systems and applications. With the help of this new technology, Ford will save between $5 million to $15 million per vehicle design program, according to John Goodman, fuel economy implementation manager at Ford, and this technology has a tremendous impact on Ford's automobile design process. As Chris Williams, president and CEO of Oculus said, this technology can help Ford and others explore more solutions faster, therefore process innovation can promote product innovation, a product launch a great number of process innovations are occurring to create the right product for customers. ...read more.

Conclusion

Technological change leads Ford motor to invest more money in advanced technology instead of normal technology, because of the benefits of technology itself. Besides, technology brings Ford product innovation and process innovation, which are related. Although it is true that technological change does lead to loss of jobs, yet it can lead to uncreased employment in industries in decline, as new technology requires more people with particular skills. In a word, technological change is promoting Ford's development. Ian, W & Chris, B, (2000), 3rd edn, The Business Environment, Essex, Pearson Education Steven Ltd. . Campbell, M. (1993), The Employment Effects Of New Technology And Organizational Change: An Empirical Study David, Talbot, (2001), 'Innovation in the electronic car' in Techreview Magazine, April, <http://www.techreview.com/magazine/apr01/innovation3.asp>, accessed 8/11/01 Ed, Scannell, (2001), 'Ford to use peer-to-peer technology to boost fuel-efficient car designs' in CNN Technology, 29th March, <http://europe.cnn.com/2001/TECH/industry /03/29/ford.p2p.idg>, accessed 8/11/01 Mich., (2001), 'Ford Investment Geared to Speed Commercialization of Fuel Cells' in Cartrackers News, 2nd October, <http://www.cartrackers.com/Buyers_Guide/News/ environmental_news/PID.20406.58330910101.1.html>, accessed 8/11/01 Jeffrey, Mccracken, (2001), 'Some Ford Contract Jobs Will Be Moved In-House' in Detroit Free Press, 8th Nov, <http://globalarchive.ft.com/globalarchive/article.html? id=011108002986&query=ford+and+technology>, accessed 8/11/01 1 1 ...read more.

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