INFORMATION AND KM MODULE

The Module of Information and Knowledge Management

Introduction1

Overview of Ford Motor Company1

Part A2

PEST Analysis2

Political Factors2

Social Factors3

Technological Factors3

Analysing External Business Environment of Ford Company3

PEST Analysis3

Porter's Five Forces6

Part B8

Knowledge Management8

Gathering9

Organizing9

Refining9

Disseminating9

ICT in Knowledge Management11

Part C13

Knowledge Creation/Conversion Spiral of Nonaka13

Socialization14

Combination14

Externalization14

Internalization14

Concept of Customer Relationship Management in Ford Company15

Activities for Making Effective CRM16

Conclusion16

References18

List of Figures

Figure 1: Diagram Showing Five Forces for Competitive Industry6

Figure 2: Elements of Knowledge Creation/Conversion Spiral of Nonaka12

Figure 3: Knowledge Creation/Conversion Spiral of Nonaka13

The Module of Information and Knowledge Management

Introduction

The paper intends to produce a report on the Ford Motor Company. This report will help in analysing the standing of the company through Pest analysis. In addition to this, the report will analyse the position of the Ford Company by carrying out Porter's five forces. This analysis will help in identifying the external business environment of the Ford Company. Furthermore, the report intends to focus on the knowledge management as well as its key activities which ensure successful knowledge management within the company. In addition, the report will focus on the types of Information Communication Technology and their contributions in effective Knowledge Management. Limitations of knowledge management will also be a part of the report. In addition to this, the report will discuss knowledge creation/conversion spiral of Nonaka. Overview of the concept of customer relationship management will also be included in the report. Furthermore, the report will also take into account such activities which can be helpful, in making the customer relationship management effective and efficient (Chaffey, 2007, pp. 201-455).

Overview of Ford Motor Company

This company is an American automobile manufacturer. The headquarters of the company are located in Dearborn Michigan. Henry Ford established the company in the year 1903. There are several motor vehicle brands which have been owned by Ford. These brands include Lincoln, Ford, Mazda and Volvo. There are subsidiary companies of Ford Motor Company in Japan, Sweden and United Kingdom. Recently, the Ford Motor Company is positioned as the 4th largest automobile manufacturer in the entire world. In several parts of the entire globe, the company has formed a number of distribution channels where the company sells its products.

The company is ranked as 2nd largest manufacturer in the United States whereas it is ranked as 4th largest company all across the world on the basis of number of vehicles it sells annually. Through its large distribution channel and its huge sales, the company has played a fundamental and significant role in generating appreciable and incredible revenues all across the globe. For instance, the company produced almost 5.532 million automobiles in the year 2008. In the year 2009, in spite of the unfavourable conditions for the Ford, the company ended with the total profit of almost $2.7 billion. The company has also received several quality awards which further enhanced the performance and productivity of the company (Aman and Aitken, 2011).

Part A

PEST Analysis

This technique is helpful for analysing external business environment of any business organization.

Political Factors

It analyses the political environment of business organization and it also determines its significance ...