1. In the United States, State Franchise Laws prevent automobile manufacturers from directly selling vehicles
to end consumers . One of Hackett’s
five strategic principals for Ford Motor Company states “We will evolve to capitalize on new business opportunities within this transportation operating system”. The transportation operating system that Hackett refers to is conceptualized in the ‘Smart Vehicles in a Smart World’ vision that Hackett and his team developed.
In order to pursue this principle, FMC will be required to extend its information architecture to enable significant
multi-channel direct contact with end consumers, some of whom own Ford vehicles and others who don’t.
Briefly outline what you see as some of the architectural elements that will be necessary to do this. Note: do
not feel obligated to discuss this in technical terms; feel free to frame your discussion as functional
requirements.
2. The Alturi, Duvauchelle, and Furr articles discuss practices and tactics for successful digital transformation.
Discuss two of the practices or tactics that were discussed in these articles that you believe will be particularly
applicable to the transformation the you have outlined in your discussion for question 1. Make sure to explain
why you believe each of the tactics to be applicable.
3. Assume the starting state for FMC in the digital transformation you have outlined is “Spaghetti and Silos”. Which of the pathway described in the Weill & Woerner article would you recommend FMC take in the transformation effort? Make sure you justify your recommendation.
