Discuss the following:
Review the case-Victory: The New American Motorcycle Celebrates Its First Decade on the Road by Mark Blackwell, Victory Vice President1
Discussion 1
"Victory Motorcycles"
• From the e-Activity and the case study, evaluate the business-level strategy of Victory Motorcycles to determine whether you believe the strategy is appropriate to offset forces in the industry. Provide specific examples to support your response.
• Make recommendations for improving this strategy as well as describing any challenges you foresee in executing those recommendations. Provide specific examples to support your response.
eActivities
• Use the Internet or the Strayer Library to research a large corporation headquartered in your home state, with a focus on its current level of diversification. Be prepared to discuss.
• Use the Internet or the Strayer Library to research the corporate-level strategies of Victory Motorcycles. Be prepared to discuss.
Discussion 2
"Getting the Cash"
• Small-business ideas prove themselves when customers start buying. Dispute or defend the concept that a small business starts with a business plan. Take a position on whether the customers come first, or the business plan comes first. Support your answer.
• From the case study, give your opinion on whether or not Herrera operated from a formal business plan. Predict what would have happened if Herrera had written out his plan and presented it to venture capitalists.
Discussion 3
Concepts and Summaries"
• From the first e-Activity, evaluate the business' current business strategy; propose a change in direction that would improve its prospects. Support your answer.
• From the second e-Activity, Mr. Gupta said, "A startup is a journey." He also said, "Try to do as much as you can with your own money and on your own time before you ask for investment. As soon as you raise capital, the stakes go up, your clock is ticking." Interpret the meaning of those statements. Take a position on whether you agree or disagree with those statements. Support your position.
e-Activities
• 1. Use the Internet to research a business that is familiar to you. Take a note on its current business strategy. Be prepared to discuss.
• 2. Read the article titled "How We Started Small & Raised Money". Be prepared to discuss.