Ford of Britain: A diminishing role in ford of Europe

In this paper, Michael McDermott highlights Ford of Britain and its changing role in Ford of Europe's operations. A review of the literature on foreign direct investment provides a framework for evaluating Ford Motor Company's current position and future strategy in Europe. This suggests that the company is in decline and in particular, that Ford of Britain has reached a stage where foreign divestment is likely: the Iberian peninsula is emerging as an attractive strategic alternative.The author concludes that, while the UK is losing its strategic importance as a market and a production base for Ford of Europe, any key decision to divest by the parent company is likely to involve lengthy analysis and therefore give time for public policy-makers to consider possible safeguards.     

A fundamental approach to strategy development

The problem of developing sound business strategy is probably more difficult now than it has been at any time since the war. In the midst of conflicting pressures of inflation, recession, unemployment, business failures, and social and political upheaval, today's businessman faces an environment which is both unfamiliar and uncertain. The lack of predictability concerning economic affairs can make it seem impossible to plan effectively for the future. Yet without sound strategy today, corporate survival itself may be called into question. What should be done?In this, the first of two articles, the author suggests that the key to strategy development now is to focus more than ever before on ‘fundamentals’. For the individual business, market share appears to be paramount, as is shown by the ‘experience curve effect’, a concept developed by the Boston Consulting Group in the course of its international work in advising companies on corporate strategy problems. Relative competitive position thus becomes the required simple but fundamental strategic goal. However, the quest for a superior market share must take place within the confines of an appropriately defined strategic business segment.In a further article in the February 1977 issue of LRP the author will go on to expand these conclusions concerning individual businesses, considering their implications for the sound development of strategy for the multi-business company.     

The use of futures research in product planning

Planning for change means, in effect, the need to manage change. That being so, the topic can be approached from a planning standpoint. This article looks at the problem first from a theoretical aspects—what techniques can be used in detecting developments which can affect the products to be marketed in the future. The second part describes the use of these techniques.     

The corporate road-map—Planning at Babcock & Wilcox

This article reports on the status of the planning program at Babcock & Wilcox. The article is divided into three parts. The first section describes the theory and structure of the B&W Corporate Strategic Plan and the plans that comprise it; the second section discusses what characterizes a good plan; and the third previews what might be in store for the Company.     

Asian and Pacific population targets

2 population targets for the Asian and Pacific regions were established in 1981-82: 1) by the Asian Conference of Parliamentarians on Population and Development at Beijing, China to attain 1% population growth rate for the Asian region by the year 2000, and 2) by the 3rd Asian and Pacific Population Conference at Colombo, Sri Lanka, to attain replacement level of fertility by the year 2000. In an attempt to ascertain whether these targets can be achieved and/or related, the Population Division of the UN's Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) prepared population projections in which the 2 targets are achieved. These projections were prepared by aggregating the total population of member countries. When net reproduction rate (NRR) equals 1 (replacement level fertility) it will lead to a stable population with a growth rate of zero. In the short-term a population with replacement level fertility will continue to increase if it has a young age structure due to previous higher levels of fertility. Some projections for the period 1980-2005 are: 1) population growth rate will decrease from 1.78% to 1.05%, 2) total fertility rate will decrease from 3.63-2.11, 3) male life expectancy will increase from 59.8-67.3, and 4) infant mortality rate will decrease from 67.3-34.5. For the ESCAP region, a target of NRR of 1 would be easier to achieve than a growth rate of 1%. The UN projects the total population of the region to be 3,382,000,000 in the year 2000. If the NRR can be lowered to 1 by then, however, the total population would be 3,342,000,000 and if the growth rate can be reduced to 1% by the end of the century the resulting population would be 3,300,000,000. Major demographic benefits will be attained in terms of the age structure of the population if a 1% growth rate is achieved; the proportion under age 15 was 37.1% in 1980 but will be 27.2% in 2000 with a dependency ratio of 48.8 compared to 70.8 for 1980.     

不信今时无古贤——《杨宝林书法作品集》读后

2009年杨宝林在中国第八届书学研讨会上获得论文一等奖,引起全国书学理论界和书法界的瞩目。他的获奖填补了辽沈书法理论在全国获奖缺位的空白,为辽沈书法理论树起一面旗帜。     

浙江省促进人口均衡发展的实践与思考

浙江在促进人口与经济社会资源环境协调可持续发展进程中,针对先发的人口不均衡问题不断探索应对,从较早较低层面的自觉均衡促进,到省级层面主动将人口生态体系建设纳入生态省建设;近年来进而上升到省级最高层面将人口均衡发展和人口均衡社会建设基本要求与资源节约型社会、环境友好型社会一并纳入全省生态文明建设,较好地实现了三型社会建设的有机结合;同时也明晰了未来人口计生工作战略定位、发展路径和科学目标;并着重阐述推进人口均衡发展、建设人口均衡型社会总体思路及对策建议。