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1. If you were CEO of Harley- Davidson, how would you compare the advantages

and the dis advantages of using exports , joint ventures, and foreign

subsidiaries as ways of expanding international sales?

a. If I were the CEO of Harley- Davidson, I see only upsides from joint

ventures and foreign subsidiaries as types of insourcing. I say this due

to the fact that the countries like Germany and Japan each had a

helpful hand in the production of our motorcycles. That being said co

ownership by both the US and these other countries would be fine as

long as regulated and that main ownership remained stateside in the

US. The disadvantage I do see is the notion of a strategic alliance given

our company past experience with that practice in the 1950’s. During

that time period we didn’t create lightweight motorcycles and left that

to the British and Japanese, this left us with complete control over the

heavyweight and super heavy weight motorcycles market. If we would

have created a strategic alliance with these companies we would then

be creating more competition for ourselves and who knows the

consumers that would jump ship due to brand alliance.

2. In America, Harley has shifted the positioning of its products away from

simply motorcycles and more towards being status symbols of a particular

lifestyle. What are the implications of cultural factors for positioning in other

countries that Harley has targeted for growth – ones like Japan, China, France,

and Brazil?

a. The Harley Davidson lifestyle is one that is difficult to transfer into

other markets just based on the fact that the lifestyle is based on

American culture. Although that is a fact who is to say that the present

Harley Davidson lifestyle has to be the same in each market, for

instance although the Japanese may be

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