Our new focus on integrated management is also reflected in the evolution of our Community Impact and Assessment Model. Based on our experience developing the model and conducting pilot assessments (see Community Investment Model from our 2005/6 Sustainability Report for description), we now believe it will be more effective to integrate – or expand existing – community components in some of our other core processes, rather than conducting a stand-alone Community Impact and Assessment process.
For example, the revised Code now addresses several key community issues, and we will assess our performance against those new elements as part of the broader Code compliance assessment process. To do so, we are planning to expand the Code assessment process to include more engagement with members of the local community to find out how well they feel Ford is meeting its commitments in these areas.
Community engagement is also being integrated as a fundamental part of our sustainable mobility strategy. In our view, developing a deep understanding of the unique mobility needs of emerging markets is a pre-condition of being able to do business in those places. To help us develop that understanding, we intend to conduct engagement sessions in several communities.
