Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company: A Corporate Social Responsibility Review

AMBA 610 Section 9043 Semester 1306

Introduction

Hosmer (2011) writes, “do you have an obligation to leave the world a little better than you found it, or can you simply take what you want now, and let other people worry about making up for any shortfall later on?” (p. 114). Hosmer has essentially defined what we have come to call Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) over the past two decades (Campbell, 2007). Rather than an individual’s ethical duty, CSR focuses on the ethical responsibility of businesses in relation to society (Wilson, 2003). While the ultimate goal of any business is maximizing profits for the shareholders, CSR challenges that idea with the question: At what cost to society are we realizing financial prosperity? (Wilson, 2003). Unfortunately, as Hosmer (2011) writes, some people “choose to ignore this injunction to leave the world a little a better than they found it” (p. 114). Ford Motor Company (Ford) does not prescribe to the latter, and is striving to uphold their social responsibility.

Corporate Social Responsibility Policy

Ford Motor Company operates in the auto manufacturing industry. Even in the industry in which they operate, Ford strives to maintain corporate social responsibility through sustainability. Wilson (2003) defines sustainability as “dialectical concept that balances the need for economic growth with environmental protection and social equity” (p. 1). In June, 2013, Ford’s CEO, Alan Mullay, wrote:

We are going further by committing to use resources responsibly, because efficient operations yield benefits economically, socially and environmentally. Indeed, going forward, the companies that are sustainable will continue to make products that people want and value, and they will do it using fewer resources and less time.

Ford Motor Company does not have an implicit stated policy outlining their corporate social responsibility framework....