Henry Ford

An exceptional but flawed American figure

     Henry Ford built the Ford Motor Company on the basis of sound productive and business practices that stress continuous improvement of methods of production to reduce costs and prices and that emphasize high quality, durable, and reliable products.  He paid high wages to his workers, whom he viewed as partners who ought to share in the profits of the business.  He was opposed to labor leaders for their tendency to retard technological development in order to protect jobs, thus undermining the generation of new employment in the long term.  He formulated a critique of prevailing business practices, rejecting their emphasis on money and profits at the expense of the economic and social development of society.  He developed a factory system that provided equal opportunity (for men) in accordance with ability and desires, regardless of level of education or prior criminal record, and independent of physical condition.  He believed that individuals should receive from society what they…