II. Porter's 5 Forces Critique
Porter[35] states that the key aspect of a company's environment is the industry it competes because of industry structure has a strong influence on determining the competitive rules and the company's strategies. He also points out that outside forces usually affect all the firms in the industry, which depends on five basic competitive forces(figure 2).
Source: Porter, M. (1980) Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analysing Industries and Competitors, MacMillan.
According to this framework, the intensity of competition determines a firm's profitability potential whereas the potential profits are determined by the relative bargaining power of the firms and their customers and suppliers in the industry[80]. According to McGee's[81] idea, these are five fundamental forces that influence the attractiveness of the industry and affect its profitability.
III.Value Chain
A value chain(see figure 3) links a set of value-creating activities that begin with raw materials, and from suppliers then move on to some valued-added producing and marketing activities, and at the end the distributors get the final goods then pass to the hand of the consumer[52].
A systematic analysis of individual value activities can lead to a better understanding of a organisation's capability[52].
IV. Ansoff Matrix
According to Jobber[6], Anosoff Matrix is a useful method to examine growth opportunities. By combining present and new products, and present and new market into a 2x2 matrix, four product strategies known as market penetration or expansion, market development, product development and diversification are revealed(see figure 4 ).
V. The Boston Consulting Group Growth-Share Matrix
According to Jobber[6], BCG matrix(see figure 5) provides guidelines for strategic thinking. By assessing the position of a business in its industry, a company can begin to consider the appropriate strategic objective for each line as well as the investment priorities.
Figure 5 The Boston Consulting Group Growth-Share Matrix
Source[78]:Johnson,G. and Scholes,K.(1999) Exploring Corporate Strategy, fifth edition, Harlow:Financial Times-Prentice Hall
REFERENCE
[1] Ford Motor Company website
<www.ford.com> (access on 20 July)
[2] Ford Motor Company UK website
<www.ford.co.uk > (access on 20 July)
[3]Gu,Y.(2002) 'Overview of world automobile industry' in World Manufacturing Engineering & Market, 04/2002, p42-43.
[4]Zhang,Z.(2003) 'Developing trends on world automobile industry in the early years of the 21st century' in World Manufacturing Engineering & Market, 04/2003, p35-36.
[5]Finlay,P.(2000) Strategic Management: an introduction to Business and Corporate strategy, Harlow: Financial Times-Prentice Hall.
[6]Jobber,D.(2004) Principles and Practice of Marketing, fourth edition, Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill.
[7] Crowhurst,G.(2006) 'The Environmental Liability Directive: A UK Perspective.' in European Environmental Law Review, Vol.15, Issue 10, p266-276.
[8] DieselNet website, 'Emission Standard'
<http://www.dieselnet.com/standards/eu/ld.php> (accessed on 24 March 2007)
[9]Yin,T.(2005) 'An Introduction to the American Emission Regulation for Motorcycles Running on Expressway' in Motorcycle Technology, 07/2005, p24-25.
[10] 'The UK government's Ultra Low Carbon Car Challenge.' in Automotive Engineer, Vol.29, Issue 2, Feb 2004, p34-34.
[11] Petrolprices website, 'fuel tax'
<http://www.petrolprices.com/fuel-tax.html> (accessed on 24 March 2007)
[12] GTZ report: International Fuel Prices 2007
[13] Beams,N.(2007) After strong growth, world economy at a turning point
<http://www.wsws.org/articles/2007/apr2007/grow-a24.shtml> (access on 24 July)
[14] Counihan,G..(2006) 'COMMENT' in Finweek, 6/29/2006, p110.
[15] 'Global trading -- global financing.' in Works Management, Vol.60, Issue 5, May2007, p10.
[16]Stokes,B.(2006) 'Jobless Globalization' in National Journal, Vol.38, Issue 23, 6/10/2006, p58.
[17]Pogge,T.(2005) 'Real World Justice.' in Journal of Ethics, Vol.9, Issue 1/2, Jan2005, p29-5.
[18]Jackson,S.(2007) 'Empires of the MIND.' in Presidency, Vol.10, Issue 1, Winter2007, p14-19.
[19]Francis,D.(1998) 'Population Growth Slows, and Elderly Ranks Rise.' in Christian Science Monitor, Vol.90, Issue 234, 10/28/98, p6.
[20]Potts,M.(2007) 'Population and environment in the twenty-first century.' in Population & Environment, Vol.28, Issue 4/5, Mar2007, p204-211.
[21]Geerlings,H., Klementschitz,R. and Mulley,C.(2006) 'Development of a methodology for benchmarking public transportation organisations: a practical tool based on an industry sound methodology.' in Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol.14, Issue 2, Jan2006, p113-123.
[22] European Environment Agency (2003) 'Europe's environment: the third assessment' in Environmental assessment report No.10, Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.
[23] BBC website, 'parking'
< http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/C2332> (accessed on 26 March 2007)
[24] Department of transport, 'Road Casualties Great Britain: 2005 annual report'.
[25] Brad,A. and Jonathan,F.(2005) 'Toward Inherently Secure and Resilient Societies'. in Science, Vol.309, Issue 5737, p1034-1036.
[26] 'Consider the alternatives', in Economist, Vol.375, Issue 8424, Special section, 4/30/2005, p21-24.
[27]Di Pascoli,S., Femia,A. and Luzzati,T.(2001) 'Natural gas, cars and the environment. A relatively 'clean' and cheap fuel looking for users', in Ecological Economics, Vol.38, Issue 2, p179.
[28] Lewin,T.(2006) 'Hydrogen inches toward mass market'. in Automotive News, Vol.81, Issue 6227, p22.
[29] 'VW signs first solar power deal.' in Automotive Engineer, Vol.31, Issue 2, Feb2006, p10.
[30]Wernle,B. and Bolduc,D.(2004) 'Auto design enters a new golden age', in Automotive News, Vol.78, Issue 6099, p20.
[31]Frank,R.(2004) 'Safety Rules the Road', in Design News, Vol.60, Issue 14, p73-76.
[32]Obradovic,D., Lenz,H. and Schupfner,M.(2007) 'Fusion of Sensor Data in Siemens Car Navigation System', in IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, Vol.56, Issue 1, p43-50.
[33]Hooley,G.., Saunders, J.and Piercy,N.(1998) Marketing Strategy & Competitive Positioning, Second edition, Harlow: Prentice Hall.
[34]Johnson,G. and Scholes,K.(1993) Exploring Corporate Strategy, third edition, Hemel Hempstead: Prentice Hall.
[35]Poter,M.(1980) Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analysing Industries and Competitors, MacMillan.
[36] Automotive Forecast World (2005) 'UK: Market profile', p348-352.
[37] 'SUPPLY & DEMAND' in Automotive Industries, Vol.184 Issue 6, Jun2004, p50.
[38] Banks,C.(2006) 'Industry Goes for the Safe Sale', in Ward's Dealer Business, Vol.40, Issue 7, p38.
[39] Business Week Online, 'Concept Cars Are Getting Real' By: Helm, B., 1/12/2006.
<http://www.businessweek.com/autos/content/jan2006/bw20060111_142895.htm> (accessed on 16 April 2007)
[40] Jan,T. and Hsiao,C.(2004) 'A four-role model of the automotive industry development in developing countries: a case in Taiwan' in Journal of the Operational Research Society, vol.55, number 11, p1145-1155.
[41] Manufacturingtalk website, 'Auto-parts suppliers should look outside'
<http://www.manufacturingtalk.com/news/alu/alu102.html> (access on 17 April 2007)
[42] WARD'S Auto World website, 'RETHINKING Platform Engineering' by Winter,D. and Zoia,D. Mar 1, 2001.
<http://wardsautoworld.com/ar/auto_rethinking_platform_engineering/index.html> (accessed on 17 April 2007)
[43] National Statistics website
<http://www.statistics.gov.uk> (accessed on 25 March 2007)
[44] Fill,C.(2002) Marketing Communications: Contexts, Strategies and Applications, Third edition, Harlow: Prentice Hall.
[45] Ellegard,P.(2006) 'Rental firms launch worldwide drive', in Travel Trade Gazette UK & Ireland, Issue 2712, p44-45.
[46] Lester,R.(2005) 'Land Rover promotes UK sales chief to global role' in Marketing Week, Vol.28, Issue 21, 5/26/2005, p8.
[47] Ford Company Corporate Guide 2005
[48] Ford Company Annual Report 2006
[49] Kimberley,W.(2005) 'Ford's U.K. Investment in Diesels' in Automotive Design & Production, Vol.117, Issue 11, Nov2005, p16-18.
[50] Halliday, J.(2007) 'How Microsoft could boost Ford' in Advertising Age, Vol.78, Issue 25, 6/18/2007, p16.
[51] Francis,H.(2003) 'HRM and the beginning of organizational change' in Journal of Organizational Change Management, Vol.16, Issue 3, p309-327.
[52] Wheelen,T. and Hunger,J.(2006) Strategic
