1. Why might there be high potential for conflict in relationships such as the one enjoyed by Ford-Mazda? 
2. What means of managing group conflicts, as discussed in Chapter 9, are used in the Ford-Mazda partnership?
3. Why do you think the Ford-Mazda partnership has been so successful, while many others (including those listed at the beginning of the case) haven't been?

While international joint ventures among auto manufacturers make great sense, often they don't make great profits. For example, for many years, auto giant General Motors bailed out loss-plagued Isuzu, in which at one point it owned a 49 percent stake. The list of cross cultural disappointments goes on: Chrysler-Mitsubishi, Daimler-Chrysler, and Fiat-Nissan have all produced as much rancor as rewards.

Ford-Mazda is the exception. Their marriage has weathered disagreements over specific projects, trade disputes between Japan and the United States, and even allegations by the Big Three that Mazda and other Japanese rivals were dumping minivans in the United States. The alliance, founded when Ford stepped in to rescue the struggling Japanese carmaker in 1979, has stood firm for over 30 years. With Ford owning 11 percent of Mazda, the two companies have cooperated on several new vehicles and exchanged valuable expertise-Ford in international marketing and finance, Mazda in manufacturing and product development.

Ford and Mazda have worked jointly on several auto models; usually Ford would do most of the styling and Mazda would make key engineering contributions. Jointly worked cars include the Ford Escort and Mercury Tracer models, the subcompact Festiva, the sporty Ford Probe and Mercury Capri, and the Tribute and Explorer SUVs. The Ford-aided Mazdas are the MX-6, 323, ProtA?gA?, and Navajo. In all, approximately one of every four Ford cars sold in the United States has benefitted from some degree of Mazda involvement-everything from manufacturing methods to steering designs- whereas two of every five Mazdas has some Ford influence.

The Ford-Mazda relationship extends beyond U.S. borders. In 2010, a joint venture between Ford and Mazda in Thailand began producing passenger cars export to several Asian countries.

Ford and Mazda can call on some hard-learned principles for managing a successful strategic alliance, many of which would apply to ties in any industry. The secrets to the Ford-Mazda success are Keep top management involved. The boss must set a tone for the relationship. Otherwise, middle managers will resist ceding partial control of a project to a partner. Meet often, and often informally. Meetings should be at all levels and should include time for socializing.

Trust can't be built solely around a boardroom table. Use a matchmaker. A third party can mediate disputes, suggest new ways of approaching the partner, and offer an independent sounding board. Maintain your independence. Independence helps both parties hone the areas of expertise that made them desirable partners in the first place. Allow no ?osacrifice deals.?? Every project must be viable for each partner. Senior management must see that an overall balance is maintained. Appoint a monitor. Someone must take primary responsibility for monitoring all aspects of the alliance. Anticipate cultural differences. Differences may be corporate or national. Stay flexible and try to place culturally sensitive executives in key posts. Underlying these principles is the idea that benign neglect is no basis for a partnership. Or, as Ford president Phillip E. Benton Jr. stated, ?oThere's a lot of hard work in making it work.??