The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is one of Canada’s largest employers consisting of 65,000 regular force members and 15,000 reserve force members. During World War I, specifically at Vimy Ridge, the Canadian military proved that they are more than an emerging military by capturing the difficult position on April 12, 1917. Today, the CAF is a globally recognized military involved in peacekeeping and combat missions all over the world. But the transformation from 1917 to 2014 did not just happen over night; Alfred Chandler, the “father of business history” as well as a former business professor at the University of Harvard, argued for a firm to grow and experience success they must be a first mover. According to Chandler a first mover not only reinvests time and money into research and development, but also marketing and management. The CAF was only able to transform into a global military power because they were able to adapt, and I am arguing that they were able to adapt and grow into the military they are today because they followed Chandler’s first mover strategy by investing in all three components.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Canadian Armed Forces: What it Takes to be a First Mover
- Research and Development
- Marketing
- Management/Leadership
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and its success as a first mover in the global military landscape. It argues that the CAF's ability to adapt and grow into a leading military force is due to its strategic investment in research and development, marketing, and management/leadership, aligning with Alfred Chandler's first mover theory.
- The importance of research and development in maintaining technological and knowledge advantage
- The role of marketing in recruiting and attracting qualified personnel
- The significance of leadership development and management in fostering a strong and effective military organization
- The application of first mover theory in the context of a military organization
- The impact of strategic investments on the CAF's success and global standing
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- The CAF's success as a first mover is attributed to its strategic investment in research and development. This includes the operation of eight Defence Research and Development centers across Canada, specializing in various aspects of military operations, training, and recruiting. The CAF is actively involved in research related to unmanned robotic devices, aiming to enhance safety and effectiveness in high-risk scenarios.
- The CAF invests heavily in marketing to attract new recruits. The paper highlights the importance of marketing in maintaining a strong regular force of 65,000 members. The CAF's competitive salary and benefits, coupled with media advertisements, are crucial in attracting qualified individuals to join the military.
- Leadership and management play a vital role in the CAF's success. The paper discusses the importance of developing highly qualified leaders who can effectively manage and lead the organization. The focus on leadership development starts early, with officers receiving extensive training at The Royal Military College of Canada (RMC). The paper emphasizes the importance of education and academic disciplines in shaping effective military leaders.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Canadian Armed Forces, first mover, research and development, marketing, management, leadership, military strategy, global military power, technological advantage, recruiting, innovation, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), unmanned robotic devices, motivation theory, hygiene factors, motivating factors, The Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), Alfred Chandler, Charles Handy, Henry Mintzberg.
- Quote paper
- Blake Sullivan (Author), 2014, The Canadian Armed Forces. Are they a First Mover?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/285195
