Corporate Intranet

Background (General Facts)

Ford Motors is one of the three leading automobile manufacturing companies in the United States. Based in Michigan in 1903 by Henry Ford and climbed on a turnover of 150 billion U.S. dollars and reached more than 370,000 employees by 1996 [1]. In the 1970s, the automobile market for the major car manufacturers - General Motors (GM), Ford and Chrysler has been crunched by competition from foreign manufacturers like Toyota and Honda. In 1999, Ford bought Volvo, the Swedish model inan attempt to compete on foreign markets and expand to other regions. In addition, Ford launched a complete organizational re-engineering business process so-called "Ford 2000" aimed at restoring the company's infrastructure. The process is to reduce their vehicle Centers (VCs), only five of the operations that stretched about 200 countries. It also meant cutting redundancies and require Information Technology (IT) to the driving force and the connection between Ford Centerworldwide.

To build up the IT infrastructure of Ford, the company in implementing a setup that is concentrated TCP / IP communication protocol on the U.S. Department of Defense supports basic requirements. In those days, Ford was to serve the internal network files, unlike most companies, the network is transmitted mainly for e-mail communications. During the 1990s, Ford developed a low-cost Global Enterprise Network Integration (GENI) process for all sites compromises on the linkthe type of connection and the wiring for the benefit of full coverage. At the same time, Ford Building the Web farm that started basically a series of hardware and software are managed by a team for the construction of Ford's public web site. The work started by the publication of documents for technical notes and drew pictures of a more advanced, live auto show. As a result, the site received 1 million hits per day in less than 2 years after the official launch. During the late 90s, FordSeat of Web services by increasing the number of published information, the development of intelligent and standard web application in 12-week period, the acquisition of additional Netscape browser to be installed on computers of its users and the creation of a B2B server so that the vendor providing secure access to intranet from Ford.

On the way to service costs and bring more business over the Internet, worked closely with Ford to create its competitors in the U.S. market, GM and Chryslerthen what the "Automotive Network Exchange" known (ANX), cert. The protocols enable the provision of a uniform standard of communication over the Internet, vendors are offering on common technology for all manufacturers. In addition, Ford has focused on providing accessible information on its website and these beneficial deal with the use of a team to complete the process for adding and updating information on an analysis of management, such as people with the information. One last aspect of Ford's effort was totry a model for its infrastructure, which implements the model of Dell computers, building to improve their supply chain and supply security benefits to. The direct model would not be good for the auto industry, how would it work with computers as a result Ford was working on its retail network reconstruction and investigation, which finally leads to the additional advantage of the delivery.

Enterprise Architecture Issues

Ford regional expansion to the address of competition for the market --Shares required for the infrastructure cost upgrades
IT infrastructure limitations in the nature of the development of applications based on platforms
Easy access to information and rapid delivery of critical data to key personnel requires an adequate knowledge management Organizations process reengineering and restructuring is required if the application of new technologies to save costs and increase efficiency
Supply-chain failures and delays can severely impact the progress of theBusiness and the market value of the company

Analysis

Infrastructure Upgrade

Since the inception of the Internet in the 1960s has been much effort to standardize how computers to get it produced in conjunction. The year 1982 saw the International Organization for Standards (ISO), which during this time, many ad hoc networking systems were already using the TCP / IP protocol for communication and thus adapted as a standard in its model for the Internet network [2]. TheMain driver for IP convergence at that time was the growth in data traffic over wide area networks (WANs) used by local companies. Moreover, in 1991 the Internet was opened for commercial use, and that lowering the total cost for the operation of the network to communicate with 1 million Internet hosts, which handle only a 1-year period called materialized. Understood telecommunications companies like AT & T, the potential and worked on the standardization of the network, offering voice services over IPNetworks, manages the separation between voice and data transmission [3].

At the same time, Ford had started its plan to upgrade its infrastructure and took the opportunity brought by the global movement of the integration of voice, fax transmission to the network with the WAN data transmission and enhanced its operations in Europe and elsewhere. The financial benefits that came from the fact that Ford fit the TCP / IP protocol from the beginning and made sure that all theirtechnical infrastructure upgrades to the standards. This made the transition from the Internet is a cost-effective as it could be.

Web Technologies

Intranets employ hypertext and multimedia technology over the Internet. Before 1989, when Tim Burners-Lee, inventor of the Web [4], used the most standard applications development languages like C and C + + to create desktop applications that use proprietary and dependent on the platform. For example,Applications that run on a command line based operating system like UNIX, not Windows, and those for personal computers may not work on Apple computers, and vice versa work [5]. The invention of HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) was a new model for the applications that the standards of a single program of compliance with the "Web Browser". Unlike standard applications, the browser has a standard interface, which had a very quick learning curve. Users seem to require no additionalTraining function to communicate with Web browsers. Additionally, administrators have to spend any time trying to install upgrades to user computers "as the Intranet client / server architecture, all the updates easier by connecting to the Web server [6].

Since Ford set up its intranet, it was the objective, the creation of Web applications through the first analysis of the "Mosaic", the early form of web browsers. To create the technical department at Ford is using Web languagesthe first website in 1995. In 1996, the team began to build applications using the uniform "Netscape" browser, which was used on all computers in the company, and works cut to a standard template for the development life cycle. There was a significant reduction of training costs through the user interface of web applications. He also represents the speed of the development of critical applications available to different individuals in society. For example, allowed the B2B websiteSuppliers and secure remote access to various parts of the Ford intranet. In addition, the development team created an application as a virtual teardown on the website of Ford when Ford's engineers could parts of cars in the competition test and evaluate new technologies. The alternative would be an actual trip to a physical place where the tears of Ford cars have been examined on the parts.

Knowledge Management

While there are many definitions of knowledge, every companyto adjust, based on his own analysis, as data and information on the acquisition of knowledge. The University of Kentucky, for example, defines knowledge as "an important resource organization. It is the raw material, work-in-process and finished good decision making. Different types of knowledge used by decision makers include information, techniques and heuristics, including ... "[7].

Organizations go through different activities that the amount of information they collect to manage the formKnowledge base of the company. Activities include the creation of databases of best practices and market intelligence analysis, collection of filtering and classifying data, integration of knowledge in business applications used by employees and the development of focal points to facilitate knowledge flow and the development of capabilities [8].

Ford was about the traffic it received on the website and each was the publication of any materials they have been angry at the desk on the Intranet. However, therewas a growing concern about the applicability and usefulness of the material people have been added. As a result, Ford created a "Knowledge-Domain Team" to set up information in nine areas identified as critical to the economy. The process has Ford was based on surveys and specialist input, how people perceive information, and what is important and what is disturbing in the structure of the site of Ford "The goal behind this initiative was to reduce the time spent individualsSeeking information through appropriate indexing of the contents of the site and ensure that what was important could, in due course be called and what is trivial, does not overwhelm the researcher with thousands of results.

Business Re-engineering

In the area of corporate re-engineering process of innovation is the set of activities to achieve the significant business improvements. Organizations that do benefit from the innovation process by the regime of identificationthe processes, the factors for change, developing the vision, the understanding of the current process and the development of a prototype for the new organization. History shows that have organizations that their processes are defined correctly no problems managing the issues and the development of change factors [9]. If necessary the introduction of technology, business redesign. The industrial areas were to redesign using information technology to process, control of production and management of material forGenerations. However, it is only recently that the company recognized that the fusion of IT and business would go on automation to fundamental change in how business processes are carried out [10].

If understand foreign companies allowed to compete in the U.S. market, that Ford's business in a competitive arena it needs to implement strategies that competitors] is difficult to succeed in imitating [11th As a result, Ford bought Volvo Sweden enter the European market, andpartly owned by Mazda for a competitive advantage with Japanese cars1 [12]. To achieve this, it re-engineered its manufacturing development and global business organization and processes for dramatic cost reduction. Moreover, it is understood that the expansion of cooperation and coordination required, and so planned to establish the IT infrastructure over a WAN are connected, that all offices. In the process of innovation and re-engineering, Ford has managed policies to set the costthe establishment of the system to build models for the continuous implementation and organized meetings for the global alignment of all parties with the process. Add that when it comes to managing the site, Ford makes an awareness campaign for all sectors to understand that Ford uses the Internet to collaborate and research and adaptation of information technology as a way to maximize the business value. The goal was for Ford to maintain its leadership position in the market and to do that in theefficient and inexpensive method that is there.

Supply Chain Management

Supply Chain Management (SCM) deals with the coordination between suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers and customers [13]. The basic idea that SCM turning applications around the provision of information for all those who in decisions about the product or the supply of goods involved in the supplier to the consumer [14 Administration]. Studies show that the reduction of errors in the supply chainSales, increases sales, increases productivity and reduces the order-to-fulfillment period [15].

Ford often compared their supply chain process that Dell, in an attempt to stop the gaps in its own process and to achieve the level of success, Dell has achieved. The difference in the distribution model between Dell and Ford is located in conjunction with the retail sector. Since Ford can not skip, retail as a central distribution point, it operates through a network of retail storesthat are in their possession. Ford made sure stores are not affecting each other in terms of turnover and gave them all a standard look and feel to establish himself as a representative in the consumer retail companies selling cars. In addition, extensive re-engineering initiatives have been taken to Ford external network by improving the correlation with smaller suppliers. In this way, Ford made sure that the main suppliers to access forecast data from the purchase of customer development and productionInformation faster, in order to cycle through to handover. Ford's vision was to create a model that allows flexibility, predictable processes, and delivered the product at the right time to the right consumers.

Conclusions

Ford is an example of how traditional organizations can adapt to mature, which is up to date and maximize the business value. The process that was necessary to Ford by the continued support of management. Moreover, it depends on alignment between theinvolved as a key to success. The correlation was not limited to internal employees, but expanded to cover a competitor to achieve mutual benefits, working with suppliers to maintain similar reasons and adequate infrastructure and to training programs for all on the vision and objectives can learn organization.

Ford technological progress came at a time when the Internet was not yet reached its full potential. The introduction of fiber optic cable in the late 90s and the significantIncrease the bandwidth could have contributed to Ford and to bear the cost of an average compound represented by their own offices. In addition, the ISP services, the hosting server, but a few players, which is why Ford preferred to manage their own Web servers and maintain the effort for the 24 hours uptime and security, said limited.

From this case study, I realized the extent of the commitment large companies have to maintain their position in the market. These companies know the revolving characterBusinesses in the sense of how easy it is to fall back, if they do not keep pace with the changes. The Ford process also shows the need for quick thinking and resourceful when faced with situations that might seem to be unfavorable. The way Ford ventured into the foreign market by acquiring local manufacturers was a strategic decision, not only enabled Ford to merge with different technologies, but also have saved the additional cost of establishing production centers in Japan andEurope.

Recommendations

Nursing leadership in the market requires innovative companies willing to revise in order to be successful.
IT merger means the company restructuring and transformation of the role IT would play in understanding the requirements of justice in the company
Planning and modeling is crucial in coordinating the work with large teams.
The design of Web pages is not about content, but to understand what adds value and how to interact with people with information.
Knowledge management is a plan, companies must develop as part of their initial business process modeling
It is not wrong to try for big companies, to a successful implementation of the adapted by other companies.

References

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