Reference no: EM131133845
Case Study: Harley Davidson (HD)
Read the case study located on page 176 of the section titled Case Studies in your textbook and prepare a 7- to 10-page report in a Microsoft Word document, based on the following situation:
You have been asked to consult with Harley Davidson (HD) on three major strategic issues. In preparation of making recommendations for those issues.
You should write a report that addresses the following key strategic issues:
Discuss the interaction among the economic, political, sociocultural, and technological sectors of the business environment to identify opportunities and threats.
Summarize HD's current strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT).
Appraise the effects of HD's size, speed of strategic decision making and implementation, innovation, and quality on their ability to take competitive action.
What has HD's corporate-level strategy been historically? Be sure to justify your answer with examples.
Explain how this strategy will stand up against the competition and conditions in the industry.
Would following an acquisition or merger strategy be a good idea? Why or why not? If you were to recommend pursuing an acquisition, what problems would you advise HD to watch out for?
Discuss the uncertainties and risks of doing business in different regions throughout the world.
Would HD be wise to pursue a cooperative strategy? If so, which type of cooperative strategy would be best, why would it be best, and with whom should HD pursue this strategy? If a cooperative strategy is not a good idea for HD explain why not.
Based upon your analysis, provide Harley Davidson with your recommendations related to their three major issues:
Harley Davidson products are viewed as leisure items rather than necessities. How should HD push sales in a down economy?
Should (or can) HD market their products as something other than leisure items?
HD's target market is difficult to manage. In recent years HD has attempted to broaden its age 29-55 male market by including younger riders and women. Is this the correct target market for HD? If so, should marketing be segmented? How?
Would marketing to different segments water down HD's image?
HD's product demand is difficult to manage. Recently overseas competition has refocused their product lines from the low end of the market to the more median price range. As they did this, they also broadened their product lines. How should HD manage their products? Should HD have a product line to meet the needs of the entire market or should they focus on one area of the market? If they follow a market focus strategy, what should their new target market be?
Support your responses with examples.
Cite any sources in APA format.
|
Describe the immigration forms to apply for a job
: For the first part of your post, describe the immigration forms and documents needed to apply for a job. Research and review an I-9 Form and describe the documents that you would produce to establish legal U.S. status.
|
|
Describe methods and make recommendations for improvement
: Critique your employer's method(s) for setting pay and granting pay raises. Describe the methods and make recommendations for improvement. This is for a government employee working for Department of Army or DOD.
|
|
Write about james baldwin
: How do ideas, feelings, and descriptions get from Baldwin's heart and mind to your heart and mind - how are you, as the reader, essential for the communication process of writing to be complete?
|
|
Miners to reflect mechanized-mass-production technology
: When the British coal mines were automated after World War II and management changed the structure of task and role relationships among the miners to reflect a mechanized, mass-production technology
|
|
What has hd''s corporate-level strategy been historically
: Appraise the effects of HD's size, speed of strategic decision making and implementation, innovation, and quality on their ability to take competitive action.
|
|
The strategic air command was the most powerful part
: The Strategic Air Command (SAC) was the most powerful part of the U.S. Air Force for over 60 years because of its crucial role in the Cold War. After the Cold War ended, bombers and missiles were no longer important to the mission of the air force.
|
|
Per the due care theory
: Per the "Due Care" theory*
|
|
General aspiration of also providing adequate information
: You state at the beginning of your discussion post that business research is done in order to provide managers with adequate information so they can make a decision regarding performance. Would you say it is fair to say scientific research has a gene..
|
|
Who you feel is a good leader and describe characteristics
: Describe the characteristics that he or she demonstrated to be considered a good leader
|