What is the One Ford Plan?

The One Ford Plan was a strategy introduced by Alan Mulally when he joined Ford, aimed at unifying the company's global operations and driving competitiveness. Previously, each Ford entity operated differently in various countries, which was ineffective against global competitors. The key components of the plan included:

1. Unified Global Approach: Mulally highlighted the need for Ford to operate uniformly across the world rather than as separate entities in each country.

2. Pulling Together Talent: The strategy involved assembling a global team, utilizing the best talents from across the world, who had not necessarily worked together before.

3. Business Plan Review: This involved continuous evaluation of the company's strategic direction and performance across various departments. Surprisingly, even when Ford was facing a $17 billion loss, all 300 evaluation charts were colored green, indicating positive performance as part of a newly adopted culture of transparency and teamwork.

4. Trust and Cultural Change: Mulally also introduced a new culture centered on principles like people-first and zero tolerance for not adhering to new processes, which greatly supported the trust and execution of the plan.

Overall, the One Ford Plan represented a structured approach to fostering a global and cooperative team environment aimed at improving efficiency and competitiveness 1 2.