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Buell Forum » Quick Board » Archives » Archive through September 15, 2010 » Tomorrow, you wake up as the new CEO of h-d » Archive through September 11, 2010 « Previous Next »

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Just_ziptab
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 10:08 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

What would you do?
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Wolfridgerider
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 10:10 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

cash in my chips and run.....
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Babired
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 10:20 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

sell it and live rich for the rest of my life!
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Rainman
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 10:23 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Find someone in the company who knows what they're doing and take them to lunch. And Dinner. And drinks.

Then I'd call Erik Buell for advice on how to pare down the company's design and build process so that new products can make it to market earlier and new markets can be reached.

Layoffs might be required in upper management, but that's OK. They're 50-plus and lots of experience, so there's got to be a lot of jobs out there for them.
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Jaimec
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 10:52 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Hire away the current CEO of BMW's motorcycle division.

No wait... then BMW will suffer. Just hire Erik Buell as CEO and step down. That'd work just as well.
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99buellx1
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 11:22 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Probbaly take up golfing.
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Gentleman_jon
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 11:27 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

shoot myself.

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Froggy
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 11:36 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)


quote:

shoot myself.




Beat me too it.
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Reepicheep
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 11:56 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Seriously? I'd focus on turning HD back into a motorcycle company that is prepared to cash in on lifestyle opportunities.

Today, it feels more like a lifestyle marketing company that makes motorcycles as a necessary (?) annoyance.
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S1wmike
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 12:30 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Release Erik Buell from all restrictions and give him proper ownership of all patent rights.

Keep the Thunderstorm motor in production so he can continue the XB platform.

Implement the Buell Values as the new mission statement and start building motorcycles enthusiasts
want to ride.


Kick Keith Wandell in the balls!!!!!!!!

(Message edited by S1wmike on September 10, 2010)

(Message edited by S1wmike on September 10, 2010)
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Doerman
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 12:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

File Chapter 11 and restructure.
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Cyclonedon
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 12:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

What would you do?

first thing would be get rid of the Board of Directors and find some people who actually cared about motorcycles to take their place. Folks that actually ride motorcycles have a passion and a respect for them as opposed to a bunch of corporate suits who just sit around a board table and talk about the bottom line for the stock holders.
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Doerman
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 12:58 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

BOD hires the CEO, not vice versa
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Rainman
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 01:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Oh, I forgot. Then I'd learn to ride an overweight cruiser.
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Xbrad9r
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 01:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Sell the Buell Motorcycle Company and all of its rights, etc. to Erik Buell for $1 to show that we really are not a company of back stabbing bastards.
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Delta_one
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 03:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

What xbrad9r said

Then I would; fire the board,change the name to HD lifestyle co. And turn the whole thing into an amway like business.

All the while start developing new bikes under another name. Bikes with technology innovation and style. They would still likely be cruisers and touring bikes but the HD diehards that buy I to the lifestyle thing spit when they hear about anything other than 1950's tech on a bike. Let them have it and don't try to change the public. HD motor co is too set as that kind of bike builder. It's entire image is based on it, only a subsidiary co could survive in making innovative bikes

Yes they had it before and screwed it up. But if I'm the CEO it wouldn't happen again.
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Oldog
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 06:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

A. get to the bottom of the mess with the co, toss any one who is there that had any positive thing to do with buells closing, mv purchase, or similar $hit..
invoke 0 bs rules,
as I where I work now, lie to the customer or boss and get caught, your gone, screw up own up, you may get chewed out, but thats about it, we are about solutions not finger pointing..

I too would consider the Buell values a great starting point for the corporate culture.

B. call Erik have lunch and make sure that he knew that there would be no interference on my watch from HD,[build your super bike, its all good] and explore using Erik Buell Racing to help support the existing buell product, { put money in their pockets) (ie pay them to find and capture any lost elves not abosrbed by hd to support the buell brand for the next 7 ~ 10 years.

c. determine what was making good money and
not break it, loose things that werent making money, cut back on over use of the hd brand, and study all market sectors that ride to see what new opportnities exist for dealers and HD to prosper.

my pet project would be a bike rather conventional in construction filling the city X nitch and make it simple, robust, and affordable. for folks that want entry level bike, besides the 883 and OH it will be a "standard" not a crusier,

the XR platform simplified and pared down would possibly be a starting point.
think M2

d. look at all compensation packages, and ask all to take one for the team, and lead by example by taking the biggest hit.

e. call John Flickenger and ask for a consult for further ideas.

f. require all upper management who were physicaly capable to complete MSF training
as part of orientation. and then hold riding retreats with them and various employees from all levels to cultivate a team spirit, test new products
brain storm, and make connections.
cost reductions can come from the shop floor

hd suffers from a poision culture, untill the management changes and the culture changes, hd will continue to suffer.
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Stalker
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 07:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I would....




go back to sleep!!
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Ourdee
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 07:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Laugh for a couple of hours. Make every employee from me down watch "Wild Hogs". Find out where my company vehicle is. See if Jon and Erik would meet me at Gus's for lunch. Start planning the next hd sponsored HomeComing. Buy an 1190rr and pre-order and 1190RS For personal consumption. Start planning for production of the limited edition pink hog.
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Bo_sox
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 08:49 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

QUIT!!!
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Just_ziptab
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 08:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

In my high school yearbook(1972) prophesy,I said something to the effect that I,as CEO of h-d, would buy Honda and make Hula hoops in their old factories.

It might work out the other way around......
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Ft_bstrd
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 09:33 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

"This town needs an enema!"




I would invoke a new blood policy and start gutting the place. I'd make every key department head reinterview for their job with every other candidate. I'd ask them what they would do to move Harley Davidson into the 21st century. If there was another candidate with better ideas, sorry find somewhere else to work.

No Sacred Cows.


I would combine the existing BODs with a rotating pier to pier match of dealership owners and line workers. Decisions made at the top must be implemented at the bottom.

No Ivory Tower Syndrome.
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Gunut75
Posted on Friday, September 10, 2010 - 10:03 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

What would you do?


I would go back to sleep and hope the nightmare is over when I wake up again.
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Tepiddeath
Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2010 - 08:43 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I would pray that it was all a horrible night mare!!!!!
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Chopped_burban
Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2010 - 12:48 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Group Ride!!!! You can't finish, you can't work here.
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Delta_one
Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2010 - 12:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Group Ride!!!! You can't finish, you can't work here.
awesome!

"This town needs an enema!"
super awesome!! favorite line of the film, and is so very relevant here.
just to add
"leaping leaping colonics for everyone"


(Message edited by delta_one on September 11, 2010)
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Sifo
Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2010 - 01:07 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I sell the company to Erik for $1.00. Let him do what he wants with it.
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Oldog
Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2010 - 08:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

G: call Ft_
like the corperate collonic idea
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Badlionsfan
Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2010 - 09:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I'd march right down to the design center, and personally flip the coin that decides if a particular part is gonna be flat black or chrome on the new SUPER DUPER ULTRA FXRXLMNOP.
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Tepiddeath
Posted on Saturday, September 11, 2010 - 10:28 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

BAD- so that would be the police edition right??? isn't that what the "p" at the end means!!!!
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