Module 3 - Case

External Analysis of the Motorcycle Industry

Like other companies, H-D operates in a complex global industry. In order to develop and execute a successful strategy, the Harley-Davidson Motor Company must take into account the global automotive environment. In this Case Assignment you are going to be asked to discuss H-D from a strategic perspective.

Please read the information in the background material, look for more information, and then write a 4- to 5-page report for your professor and the executives of Toyota corporation by answering the following questions:

i. What are H-D's Opportunities for moving forward in the competitive motorcycle manufacturing and sales environment?

ii. What threats does the company face?

iii. Consider the Lehman Trikes case study below. To what extend do you think the alliance between H-D and Lehman Trikes presented an opportunity for H-D? To what exent do you think this was an opportunity for Lehman? Make sure you support your arguments.

Here is the Lehman Trikes article:

Looney, D. C., & Ryerson, A. (2011). Lehman Trikes: A story within a story. Journal Of The International Academy For Case Studies, 17(7), 45-58. (Available via the Library by way of the EBSCO database).

Note: Please note that your report/assignment will not be accepted without proper citations and references. You must use the sources from the background material together with the sources you find your own.

Module 3 - SLP

An external analysis is very important for the success and survivability of a company. For the second part of the SLP project, I want you to look outside the company.

i. What are the major threats to the organization's ability to compete and succeed?

ii. What are the major opportunities available to improve the organization's ability to compete and succeed?

Write 2–3 pages on this issue and try to think creatively. I am more interested in you really thinking this through than I am with research and facts.

You do not need to disclose any private information. But it should be fun to play the role of an organizational strategist for the moment and analyze what the major external threats and outside opportunities are at play.

Note:Please note that your report/assignment will not be accepted without proper citations and references. You must use the sources from the background material together with the sources you find your own.

SLP Assignment Expectations

This paper should include:

An introduction stating the thesis, position, or central theme you plan to take in your paper, a main body focusing on the key assignment specifications, and a conclusion concisely stating the main points of your analysis and the conclusions you reached.

Be sure to document your sources and provide in-text citations whenever you use information you obtained from a background reading or other outside source, as well as a separate reference list at the end of the paper. You may use footnotes instead, if you prefer, but youmustdocument where you got the information you are using in your papers!