Grassroot Leadership - Ford Motor Co.
Ford has always attracted and nurtured capable managers and technicians, but it has failed to do the same for change agents and leaders. So, as part of the automaker's cultural overhaul, Ford is embarking on a sweeping attempt to mass-manufacture leaders. It wants to build an army of “warrior entrepreneurs” — people who have the courage and skills to topple old ideas, and who believe in change passionately enough to make it happen.
Ford Motor Company announced key changes to its senior management team as it continues to strengthen its automotive business, improve the company's operational fitness, and accelerate a strategic shift to capitalize on emerging opportunities. In announcing the leadership changes, Ford President and CEO Jim Hackett said Ford Motor Company is very fortunate to have an experienced and committed executive team in place to significantly strengthen their business while building towards their vision of becoming the world's most trusted mobility company. Their objective is to lead business to new levels of operational fitness, product and brand excellence and profitability.
Ford views grassroot leadership as the best vehicle for creating a successful business.
The individuals or groups which the Ford Motor Company could not attract and nurture are:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Change Agents and Leaders
Option (1) Capable Managers and Technicians — Incorrect. The passage says Ford has always attracted and nurtured capable managers and technicians. These are the people it did manage to keep.
Option (2) Senior Management — Incorrect. The passage calls Ford’s executive team experienced and committed. Ford made changes in it, but it did not fail to attract it.
Option (3) Change Agents and Leaders — Correct. The passage says Ford “has failed to do the same for change agents and leaders”. A change agent is a person who brings new ideas and leads others to accept change. That is why Ford set out to ‘mass-manufacture’ leaders.
Option (4) Front-line staff — Incorrect. The passage does not mention front-line staff.
Note: The passage is the NCERT case study ‘Grassroot Leadership - Ford Motor Co.’, which has been reproduced by NTA in the exam.
NCERT (2026-27 Edition): “Ford has always attracted and nurtured capable managers and technicians, but it has failed to do the same for change agents and leaders. So, as part of the automaker’s cultural overhaul, Ford is embarking on a sweeping attempt to mass-manufacture leaders. It wants to build an army of “warrior-entrepreneurs” — people who have the courage and skills to topple old ideas, and who believe in change passionately enough to make it happen.” |