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The Ford Century in Minnesota: Mapping the History of Management Thinking
Published 2025
This case study tells the story of the Ford Motor Company’s assembly operations in Minnesota spanning nearly a century. During this time, the Twin Cities Assembly Plant navigated waves of change: Industrialization, wars, depression, labor unrest, and globalization. These external forces influenced Ford’s approach to business and management and what happened at the plant. In turn, the plant shaped the community in which it was embedded. This case provides a platform for students to explore the history of management thinking over the past century.