QUESTIONS

QUESTION 1:

Corporate leaders often encounter cynicism from employees when leaders announce that they are presenting a "new" mission or vision statement for the corporation.

Why do you think employees react in this way?

What can leaders do to avoid this skeptical reaction on the part of employees and ensure that the new vision/mission is embraced?
Use examples to support your response.

QUESTION 2:

Sustainable competitive advantage is the "holy grail" of corporate strategy, but it is elusive.

Using all you have learned to date about Harley-Davidson, analyze whether or not Harley-Davidson has a source of sustainable competitive advantage. Defend your answer using examples from your readings, the annual report, and other sources.

QUESTION 3:

Synergy is an often-used word in business, but as the popular press and the textbook suggest, many efforts at diversification do not provide value to customers or shareholders.

Based on your analysis of Harley-Davidson to date and its merger, describe how it has done or could do the following:

• Find economies of scope. Provide examples of specific actions Harley-Davidson's managers could take to reduce expenses or share activities through horizontal relationships across brands.

• Find ways to achieve economies of scope by leveraging assets and capabilities across business units.

• Find ways to enhance market power by pooling and negotiating or vertical integration.

QUESTION 4:

Using Porter's diamond framework for national competitiveness, discuss the success of the software industry in India.

How do the four factors in Porter's diamond explain the success of this industry over related industries in the country?

During the next five years what do you predict might happen to the software industry in India based on all that you have learned so far in all your classes?

QUESTION 5:

Choosing a career path can help you set professional goals and achieve desired results. In the area of Supply Chain, various career path are available.

Visit some professional organizations' (related to Supply Chain) websites and review various career alternatives. Then select one which is best suited for you.

Discuss why you selected that particular career, your strengths and weakness concerning the career, and your concerns about the career.

After your initial post:

• Constructively evaluate your classmates' decisions based on their strengths and weaknesses.

• Share any careers that you have come across that your classmates may be interested in based on their strengths and weaknesses.

Write your initial response in a minimum of 200-300 words. Apply APA standards to the citation of sources.