Final answer:
The student's question relates to the Rugman and D'Cruz's flagship model and its application to different companies in the context of globalization. Ford and Volkswagen are involved in the competitive automotive sector affected by this model, while the extent to which other listed companies like IKEA, Benetton, and Microsoft apply this model would require further analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to the Rugman and D'Cruz's flagship model, which focuses on how businesses structure their international strategies, particularly in the context of globalization affecting market boundaries and increasing competition. At one time, American car manufacturers such as General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler dominated the U.S. auto market. However, with the advent of globalization, this scenario has drastically changed, and these companies now compete with global players such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, and Mazda. These changes are demonstrated through metrics like concentration ratios and the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) which, when measured in a global context, indicate a much more distributed and competitive environment than within national borders.
Ford and Volkswagen are cited as part of this global competitive landscape, indicating that they likely incorporate strategies consistent with Rugman and D'Cruz's flagship model. On the other hand, companies like Microsoft, which operates in the technology sector, may employ different competitive and international strategies that are not as aligned with the traditional flagship model, which was initially conceptualized with firms similar to automobile manufacturers in mind.
The student's question alludes to a deviation from the Rugman and D'Cruz's model by one of the listed companies, however, without more context regarding the specific strategies of IKEA and Benetton, it is difficult to definitively state which company does not follow the model.