Henry Ford - A Great Innovator

The Criticism Contd...

In May 1937, the National Labor Relations Board charged Ford with practicing unfair labor practices. An ex-UAW President, said, "Old Man Ford was a fascist. Those were the terrible old days. He fought us every step of the way, but in the end, his opposition generated a tremendous amount of sympathy for the union."³⁶ Some analysts considered Ford's industrial relations policies paternalistic.³⁷ Wayne State University's, Christopher Johnson said Ford practiced "racist paternalism." When he recruited black workers, he recommended discrimination in education, marriage and housing facilities for them, and used racial innuendos in his literatures.

In the late 1930s, when unions fought against the company, Ford hit back by resorting to the use of black workers to break the strike. Ex-Detroit Mayor, Coleman Young, wrote in his autobiography, Hard Stuff, "Ford knew damn well that the black workers were his strike insurance.

The white workers had to think twice about forming a union and walking out on their jobs when the old man had thousands of hungry blacks at his beck and call."³⁸ In spite of the above criticisms, analysts felt that Ford's place as a pioneer in automobile engineering was indisputable. His contributions in this and related fields will be remembered forever. As Sheryl James puts it, "Henry Ford is famous for his enormous accomplishments.

He was the man who put America on wheels, the creator of the first automobile assembly line, one of the world's first billionaires. His name is synonymous with success."³⁹ Even after Ford's death in April 1947, the company he founded made significant progress, The Ford company has introduced many successful cars after 'Model T' (Refer Table II)) and had emerged as the second largest automobile manufacturer in the world.

Exhibits

Exhibit I: A Brief Profile of Henry Ford
Exhibit II: Ford's Contribution to the Aviation Industry

36] As quoted in the article, "A Century of Vision: Fords Built City, Changed the World," by Bill McGraw, Detroit Free Press, March 12, 2003.

37] A policy or practice of treating or governing people in a fatherly manner, especially by providing for their needs without giving them rights or responsibilities.

38] As quoted in the article, "A Century of Vision: Fords Built City, Changed the World," by Bill McGraw, Detroit Free Press, March 12, 2003.

39] As quoted in the article, "Henry Had the Dream," by Sheryl James, Detroit Free Press, March 27, 2003.

Case Details

Case Code : LDEN025
Themes: Corporate Social Responsibility, Entrepreneurship
Case Length : 13 Pages
Period : 1903
Organization : Ford Motor Corporation
Pub Date : 2003
Teaching Note : Not Available
Countries : USA
Industry : Automobile

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