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 vision of CEO Jim Hackett was:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → To become the world's most trusted mobility company
Option (1) To become the world's most profitable mobility company — Incorrect. Profitability appears in Ford’s objective, not in its vision.
Option (2) To become the world's most trusted mobility company — Correct. The passage says the executive team was building towards “their vision of becoming the world’s most trusted mobility company”. A vision is the long-term picture of what a company wants to become. The objective is the set of results it aims at on the way: here, operational fitness, product and brand excellence and profitability.
Option (3) To become the world's most economic mobility company — Incorrect. The passage does not use this word for Ford’s vision.
Option (4) To become the world's most efficient mobility company — Incorrect. Operational fitness is part of the objective, not the vision.
Note: The passage is the NCERT case study ‘Grassroot Leadership - Ford Motor Co.’, which has been reproduced by NTA in the exam. Read NCERT thoroughly, case studies included.
NCERT (2026-27 Edition):
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