HISTORY OF BMW
BMW started out as a business after the company Rapp
Motorenworke Aircraft Company was reconstructing in 1917. They started making
aircraft engines but in 1918, after WW1 ended, they had to cease making airplane
engines because if a treaty called the Versailles Armistice Treaty, and
therefore started making motorcycle in 1923. Once the treaty started to be
lifted, the company started making automobiles in
1928.
BMW’s first car and what established them on the road was called
the Dixi, which was a remake of a car built in England called the Austin 7.
Today BMW own and build some of the most remarkable cars on the planet, to the
stylish and sporty Mini Cooper, to the insanely luxurious and expensive Rolls
Royce Motor Company, they also produce street bikes and cruising bikes. BMW has
always had a reputation among car enthusiasts as being “The King of the Road”,
their slogan is The Ultimate Driving Machine.
In June 2012, BMW was listed by Forbes.com as the #1 most
reputable company in the world. Forbes state that their rankings are based on
peoples’ willingness to buy, invest, and work for the
company.
Motorenworke Aircraft Company was reconstructing in 1917. They started making
aircraft engines but in 1918, after WW1 ended, they had to cease making airplane
engines because if a treaty called the Versailles Armistice Treaty, and
therefore started making motorcycle in 1923. Once the treaty started to be
lifted, the company started making automobiles in
1928.
BMW’s first car and what established them on the road was called
the Dixi, which was a remake of a car built in England called the Austin 7.
Today BMW own and build some of the most remarkable cars on the planet, to the
stylish and sporty Mini Cooper, to the insanely luxurious and expensive Rolls
Royce Motor Company, they also produce street bikes and cruising bikes. BMW has
always had a reputation among car enthusiasts as being “The King of the Road”,
their slogan is The Ultimate Driving Machine.
In June 2012, BMW was listed by Forbes.com as the #1 most
reputable company in the world. Forbes state that their rankings are based on
peoples’ willingness to buy, invest, and work for the
company.
CURRENT PRODUCTS
Their current products include:
*Street Bike
*Compact Sedans
*2-Seater Convertibles
*SUV’s
*Supercars
*Luxury Sedans
*Street Bike
*Compact Sedans
*2-Seater Convertibles
*SUV’s
*Supercars
*Luxury Sedans
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS
BMW, an International Company
BMW, an International Company
BMWs are sold, as well as manufactured all over the globe. Their
Headquarters is located In Bavaria, Munich, Germany, and have plants in areas
all over the world such as here in the U.S., Mexico, India, South Africa, China
and Russia.. BMW Builds their plants in specific areas because of the market,
for example, BMWs built in Mexico are South American Spec models, BMWs built in
Germany are European spec models as well as a majority of the US spec models. If
you have a BMW in your driveway right now chances are most likely it was
assembled in Germany.
Headquarters is located In Bavaria, Munich, Germany, and have plants in areas
all over the world such as here in the U.S., Mexico, India, South Africa, China
and Russia.. BMW Builds their plants in specific areas because of the market,
for example, BMWs built in Mexico are South American Spec models, BMWs built in
Germany are European spec models as well as a majority of the US spec models. If
you have a BMW in your driveway right now chances are most likely it was
assembled in Germany.
THE CULTURE OF BMW
BMW promises to give nothing but the best to their customers.
BMW’s number 1 policy is customer service, their main goals is to make sure
every BMW owner has a satisfying customer experience and is treated fairly.
Another huge part of BMW’s culture is making sure the information you provide is
private, they assure every customer that their information is secure and that
“us at BMW assure you that we are committed to protecting the security of your
information”.
BMW also provides the promise that once you drive one of their
products, you will never want to drive anything else, they are known as the
ultimate driving machine, and that says something. They strive to put the best
products on the market and they’ve had that goal since the day they’ve opened
their doors.
Kohlberg’s Stages of Ethical Reasoning
In my opinion, the company is in is Stage 5 of ethical reasoning
which is Social Contract and Individual rights and at this stage, people begin
to account for the differing values, opinions and beliefs of other people. Rules
of law are important for maintaining a society, but members of the society
should agree upon these standards.
Evidence I think that supports this is that the company has
certain rules, whether you agree with them or not if you want to work for them
you need to follow the guidelines. If you don’t you’ll be fired, its kind of
like a mini country in my opinion, you break the law, you get
punished.
Code of Ethics
The main principle stated is “the underlying corporate culture
at BMW is founded upon the principles of transparency, placing trust in others
as well as taking responsibility for one’s own actions."
Research and Development
BMW is mostly concerned with research and development because that is their main ethical challenge. BMW is striving to make the highest quality, safety and reliability in their automobiles. This is difficult though because where does BMW draw the line between quality and price. They must focus on the "better, cheaper, faster" approach; is this the true ideal for BMW or is it safe reliable cars for their patrons.
BMW’s number 1 policy is customer service, their main goals is to make sure
every BMW owner has a satisfying customer experience and is treated fairly.
Another huge part of BMW’s culture is making sure the information you provide is
private, they assure every customer that their information is secure and that
“us at BMW assure you that we are committed to protecting the security of your
information”.
BMW also provides the promise that once you drive one of their
products, you will never want to drive anything else, they are known as the
ultimate driving machine, and that says something. They strive to put the best
products on the market and they’ve had that goal since the day they’ve opened
their doors.
Kohlberg’s Stages of Ethical Reasoning
In my opinion, the company is in is Stage 5 of ethical reasoning
which is Social Contract and Individual rights and at this stage, people begin
to account for the differing values, opinions and beliefs of other people. Rules
of law are important for maintaining a society, but members of the society
should agree upon these standards.
Evidence I think that supports this is that the company has
certain rules, whether you agree with them or not if you want to work for them
you need to follow the guidelines. If you don’t you’ll be fired, its kind of
like a mini country in my opinion, you break the law, you get
punished.
Code of Ethics
The main principle stated is “the underlying corporate culture
at BMW is founded upon the principles of transparency, placing trust in others
as well as taking responsibility for one’s own actions."
Research and Development
BMW is mostly concerned with research and development because that is their main ethical challenge. BMW is striving to make the highest quality, safety and reliability in their automobiles. This is difficult though because where does BMW draw the line between quality and price. They must focus on the "better, cheaper, faster" approach; is this the true ideal for BMW or is it safe reliable cars for their patrons.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Automakers face many conflicts, some that BMW face everyday. BMW faces conflicts such as, making sure their cars are the safest they can be for drivers, passengers, children and pedestrians. all of these people are taken into account in the design and production of BMW automobiles. BMW spends millions of dollars a day to ensure that their product is top notch in the safely department. The amount of money they spend may make stakeholders wish they did not and causes a conflict of interest for BMW executives to keep investors.
Another conflict the company faces would be quality of the production and facing high demands. BMW uses some of the best materials to make sure their cars don't deteriorate, but this high grade material is expensive and make executives question costs. There is also the high demand and the question of cutting corners comes up to quicken production and put out more cars.
Another conflict the company faces would be quality of the production and facing high demands. BMW uses some of the best materials to make sure their cars don't deteriorate, but this high grade material is expensive and make executives question costs. There is also the high demand and the question of cutting corners comes up to quicken production and put out more cars.
TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE
BMW’s triple bottom line would have to be taking care of their
customers and making sure that their information is secure. They update it every
6 months to keep everything up to date, and to make sure that none of the
customers personal information gets leaked and is always
secure.
customers and making sure that their information is secure. They update it every
6 months to keep everything up to date, and to make sure that none of the
customers personal information gets leaked and is always
secure.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
In my opinion, I would categorize BMW as a company is ethical.
From what I’ve read the company is very honest at what they do and seem to care
a lot about the customers. aThey provide excellent service with great customer
care, to pursue a healthy relationship with their car owners.
In other ways, I think the company is strategic as well. I think that BMW is strategic because in
order for customers to remain loyal and keep coming back they must perform
excellent customer service. My evidence to support that BMW is a strategic company is that my mom
has a BMW and we’ve taken it to the dealer to get serviced many times. The dealer's mechanics have
always been nothing but honest and kind to us, no beating around the bush and
always straight forward. If something was wrong with the car they’d tell us and
wouldn’t try to scam us in any way.
From what I’ve read the company is very honest at what they do and seem to care
a lot about the customers. aThey provide excellent service with great customer
care, to pursue a healthy relationship with their car owners.
In other ways, I think the company is strategic as well. I think that BMW is strategic because in
order for customers to remain loyal and keep coming back they must perform
excellent customer service. My evidence to support that BMW is a strategic company is that my mom
has a BMW and we’ve taken it to the dealer to get serviced many times. The dealer's mechanics have
always been nothing but honest and kind to us, no beating around the bush and
always straight forward. If something was wrong with the car they’d tell us and
wouldn’t try to scam us in any way.
Evolution/Revolution
The company has changed in many ways since it was founded in
1917. The company first started producing airplane engines, motorcycles and
cars; they still produce motorcycles to this day. The company was going great
until the mid-1950’s when they were going bankrupt. With Bankruptcy looming over them,
they had two choices. These two choices were either close up
shop or keep open and try their luck.
Luckily for car coinsures they chose to keep their doors open and it
paid off. Now BMW makes some of the most desirable cars on the planet. The people
that kept BMW alive during that crisis were the founders and investors, the
founders wanted to keep the doors open, and with help from investors they
did just that.
The company has changed in many ways since it was founded in
1917. The company first started producing airplane engines, motorcycles and
cars; they still produce motorcycles to this day. The company was going great
until the mid-1950’s when they were going bankrupt. With Bankruptcy looming over them,
they had two choices. These two choices were either close up
shop or keep open and try their luck.
Luckily for car coinsures they chose to keep their doors open and it
paid off. Now BMW makes some of the most desirable cars on the planet. The people
that kept BMW alive during that crisis were the founders and investors, the
founders wanted to keep the doors open, and with help from investors they
did just that.
Corporate Governance
While doing research on the company, I was able to find that the
company does have structured social governance. I was also able to find out that
“management and supervisory boards of companies" listed in Germany are required
by law( German Stock Corporation Act) to report once a year to the
GCGC about which codes are ,and are not, being applied.
The main principle stated is “the underlying corporate culture
at BMW is founded upon the principles of transparency, placing trust in others
as well as taking responsibility for one’s own actions. Cooperation between the
Board of Management and the Supervisory Board, has long been the basis for
managing BMW".
While doing research on the company, I was able to find that the
company does have structured social governance. I was also able to find out that
“management and supervisory boards of companies" listed in Germany are required
by law( German Stock Corporation Act) to report once a year to the
GCGC about which codes are ,and are not, being applied.
The main principle stated is “the underlying corporate culture
at BMW is founded upon the principles of transparency, placing trust in others
as well as taking responsibility for one’s own actions. Cooperation between the
Board of Management and the Supervisory Board, has long been the basis for
managing BMW".