How to Reply - Substantive Replies: Substantive replies to classmates are expected for this Discussion. That means that comments like "Great Post" or "I agree" will NOT count toward a substantive reply. A substantive reply MUST use support from course materials, which means APA citations and references. For this Discussion, you will reply to your classmates in this way: Respond to your classmate's answer to question D: What is one thing we could do to improve this strategy? Discuss whether or not you feel this will improve the strategy for Paul's Discount Tires & Repairs. Support your claim with course materials. Note: do not repeat what you wrote in your initial post if your idea for part D is similar. How Many Replies to Classmates? Read the grading rubric carefully. The rubric points out the major criteria, including response frequency and timeliness, that will be used to grade this assignment.  Note that you cannot earn maximum grades for the frequency of posting by responding to only 2 classmates. You are required to respond substantively to 4 classmates to maximize your grade in this area. (See explanation above about what "respond substantively" means in this class.) AMBER’S POST: From:             Ms. Amber Scott To:                   Mr. Steve Wilford Subject:           Paul’s Discount Tires and Repairs Strategic Plan Date:               August 19, 2022 1. A. What is wrong with this strategy?             There is no real clear strategy here but to stay the course of what the company is doing now. That will not sustain you for long in the current financial environment. Stating they will stick to the core values of the company but not what those values are is vague. Outlining goals and implementing them in a way that they can be successfully achieved is the first step in the SMART business plan (Saylor.org, n.d., pg. 42). Working on an actual vision/mission statement for the company would give the employees and stockholders an idea of what direction the company is going in and how they plan to get there. 2. B. What is right with this strategy? One of the 5 “P’s” of strategy is the pattern (Saylor.org, n.d., pg 12, para 1), as in a pattern of behavior. Paul’s Tire and Repair shop has been doing this job for the city for over 21 years with a consistency that the city can depend on. Being able to maintain that culture is going to be a big benefit going forward to help alleviate the stress of the COVID pandemic. Being open and giving the public the service that they have come to depend on will keep them coming back to the shop to continue to do business. 3. C. We are the leader in discount tires and repairs in our city, indicating that we currently have a competitive advantage. Will we sustain it with this strategy?             The unpredictable nature of the pandemic is such that it is unclear how long it will go on and what the length of its course is going to take on the clientele that we currently have in the city. By stating Pau ...

1. How to Reply - Substantive Replies:
Substantive replies to classmates are expected for this
Discussion. That means that comments like "Great Post" or "I
agree" will NOT count toward a substantive reply. A
substantive reply MUST use support from course materials,
which means APA citations and references. For this Discussion,
you will reply to your classmates in this way:
Respond to your classmate's answer to question D: What is one
thing we could do to improve this strategy? Discuss whether or
not you feel this will improve the strategy for Paul's Discount
Tires & Repairs. Support your claim with course
materials. Note: do not repeat what you wrote in your initial
post if your idea for part D is similar.
How Many Replies to Classmates?
Read the grading rubric carefully. The rubric points out the
major criteria, including response frequency and timeliness, that
will be used to grade this assignment. Note that you cannot
earn maximum grades for the frequency of posting by
responding to only 2 classmates. You are required to
respond substantively to 4 classmates to maximize your grade in
this area. (See explanation above about what "respond
substantively" means in this class.)
AMBER’S POST:
From: Ms. Amber Scott
To: Mr. Steve Wilford
Subject: Paul’s Discount Tires and Repairs Strategic Plan
Date: August 19, 2022
1.
A. What is wrong with this strategy?
There is no real clear strategy here but to stay the
course of what the company is doing now. That will not sustain
you for long in the current financial environment. Stating they
will stick to the core values of the company but not what those

2. values are is vague. Outlining goals and implementing them in a
way that they can be successfully achieved is the first step in
the SMART business plan (Saylor.org, n.d., pg. 42). Working on
an actual vision/mission statement for the company would give
the employees and stockholders an idea of what direction the
company is going in and how they plan to get there.
2.
B. What is right with this strategy?
One of the 5 “P’s” of strategy is the pattern (Saylor.org, n.d., pg
12, para 1), as in a pattern of behavior. Paul’s Tire and Repair
shop has been doing this job for the city for over 21 years with
a consistency that the city can depend on. Being able to
maintain that culture is going to be a big benefit going forward
to help alleviate the stress of the COVID pandemic. Being open
and giving the public the service that they have come to depend
on will keep them coming back to the shop to continue to do
business.
3.
C. We are the leader in discount tires and repairs in our city,
indicating that we currently have a competitive advantage. Will
we sustain it with this strategy?
The unpredictable nature of the pandemic is such that it
is unclear how long it will go on and what the length of its
course is going to take on the clientele that we currently have in
the city. By stating Paul’s will cut costs wherever necessary,
this may also compromise the promise to continue serving the
customer as it has done in the past. The cutting costs could be
changing who we order parts from or laying off people. This
will greatly impact the number of people Paul’s can service and
how quickly or efficiently it can get them in and out the door in
a timely fashion. If Paul’s were to cut product costs, will
company be jeopardizing safety at that point? Another re-
evaluation will need to take place if the pandemic goes for too
long so that the company can regroup to move forward and

3. provide the same quality of service the city has known us for.
4.
D. What is one thing we could do to improve on this strategy?
By utilizing the SMART (specific, measurable,
aggressive, realistic, and time-bound) goals(Saylor.org, n.d., pg.
42), Paul’s Tire and Repair shop could develop and clear
mission and vision statement that would give the company a
direction to move towards. This would also give the company an
opportunity to come up with a sustainable backup plan if the
pandemic goes on for too long. Having a plan for moving
forward and a backup plan will put the company steps ahead of
the competition and ease some of the stress of what is going to
happen next.
Saylor Academy. (n.d.). Retrieved August 20, 2022,
from https://resources.saylor.org/wwwresources/archived/site/te
xtbooks/Mastering%20Strategic%20Management.pdf
ANGELA’S POST:
Memorandum
To: Steve Wilford
From: Angela Wilkinson
RE: 10-year strategy
Date: August 19, 2022
It is important that there is a strategic plan in place and even
more important that all members of the company understand and
believe in the plan. Your questions have been addressed below
for your consideration.
A. While this strategic plan considers several factors it is still
rather vague and does not include any goals to determine if the
plan is successful. It is important that goals are specific,
measurable, aggressive, realistic, and time-bound so that
employees know exactly what is expected and actual results can
be compared to the plan (Chapter 2, 2014, p. 42-43).
It is also important to note that business is now more dynamic
than ever and can change quickly based on competition,
technology, and economy. While planning for ten years, it is

4. important to understand that this plan will need to be reviewed
and updated regularly based on both internal and external
factors. One of the largest threats to success is complacency as
it gives competition a chance to evolve in new ways and take
over (Leinwand & Mainardi, 2016, para 26).
B. This plan considers what has made the company successful
over the years and continues to use the positive identity
(Leinwand & Mainardi, 2016, para 14). By committing to
provide the same services with a focus on low prices, quality
work, and high levels of customer service the company is
sticking to what has worked. Especially in tough times, it is
important to use resources to enhance capabilities and reinforce
the aspects which give a competitive advantage.
C. Competitive advantage is created by understanding what
elevates a company over competitors. This considers the
strengths and weaknesses within the company and the external
forces that affect the company and environment it operates in
(Goldsmith, 2013, p. 17). Competitive advantage is a constant
process and should be evaluated regularly. It should be adjusted
as needed to meet the operational market and the current
advantages and abilities of the company (Goldsmith, 2013,
p.17). A competitive advantage today does not guarantee a
competitive advantage tomorrow with the constant changes in
competition, technology, and external market.
D. One change that could be made to the current plan is to
include the employees. The employees are the ones selling
products, offering services, and interacting with the customers
so their satisfaction should be a priority. They directly impact
all financial measures and customer satisfaction and influence
the attitudes and behaviors displayed in the workplace. Ensuring
they understand their job duties, the goals of the company, and
their empowerment and limitations along with ensuring their
training and a safe workplace will enhance their job satisfaction
and promote innovation. Employees are a key part of success
and should be included in any plan.

5. References
Chapter 2: Leading strategically. (2014). Mastering Strategic
Management. The Saylor
Foundation. https://leocontent.umgc.edu/content/dam/equella-
content/bmgt495/Chapter2Leading_Strategically.pdf
Goldsmith, D. (2013, July/August). Rethinking the Company’s
competitive advantage. Financial Executive.
https://learn.umgc.edu/content/enforced/720091-001153-01-
2228-OL1-
6385/Rethinking%20the%20Company's%20Competitive%20Adv
antage.pdf?_&d2lSessionVal=mKCdaFcGZz95GHblImQb86uv7
Leinwand, P. & Mainardi, C. (2016, February 3). Creating a
strategy that works. Strategy+Business. https://www.strategy-
business.com/feature/Creating-a-Strategy-That-Works
ASHLEY’S POST:
TO: Steve Wilford
FROM: Ashley Mate
DATE: August 20, 2022
SUBJECT: Paul’s Discount Tires & Repairs Strategic Plan
Strategy is defined as a plan to create value, the way with which
a company decides to process and analyze the value of their
mission, is the methods with which strategy is applied (Harvard
Business, 2022). It is exemplified in the ability to show the
margins of profitability to a company’s capital. For Paul’s Tires
Discount Tires & Repairs to show that their strategic plan is
working, there are a few suggestions to bolster the existing plan
under review.
· What is wrong with this strategy?
Strategy is a complex evolution within a company that
spans many activities and processes within the company that
coalesce into the strategic identity it employs to make the
company profitable (Saylor Foundation, Ch. 1, P. 6, 2014).The
Five P’s of Strategy are listed as plan, ploy, pattern, position,

6. and perspective. The benefits of each are listed below:
Plan
A strategic plan to lead a company into the future, it is applied
on a topical and individual level for members within the
company, and the company at large.
Ploy
A specific moved that is designed to predict and outpace
competitors to main the competitive edge of a company.
Pattern
The consistency of the adherence that a company employs
following the the strategic plan.
Position
The P for Position stands for the standing of a company within
its’ market for competitors. For Paul’s Tires & Repairs it is the
companies offering the same services within the city it operates.
Perspective
It pertains to how upper management of a company perceives
the competitive market with in which they operate.
(Saylor Foundation, Ch.1 p. 7, 2014).
In understanding the draft under review of the strategic plan, I
can ascertain that the company is aligning itself to the strategy
that most companies use to establish a market identity as well as
how transparent it is for employees within the company can
peruse it and understand its’ concise mission.
· What is right about this strategy?
A solid strategy plan encompasses the ideals of the company, as
well as how the company sees their processes to push their
competitive edge (Kryscynski, 2015). In a nutshell, from the
draft crafted the company is looking to maintain affordability
through being the competition’s most trustworthy option within
the region, and the company is offering price matching that is
unbeatable for the next decade. As a result, the ethos of the
strategic plan is clearly defined and attainable through its’
existing mission. Paul’s Tires & Repairs is adhering to a clearly

7. defined objective that is easy to achieve and is underscoring the
need to achieve the same level of performance without
sacrificing quality and cutting costs where achievable to make
offset losses obtained through the covid crisis. The company is
set to maintain their standard with their customers while finding
ways to overcome covid related deficits.
· We are the market leader in discount tires and repairs in our
city, indicating that we currently have a competitive advantage.
Will we sustain it with this strategy?
As mentioned above, the drafted document appears to adhere to
the Five. P’s of Strategy. Going one step further, additionally
the company plan Strategy is used to underline the company’s
status as a leader in their field in the region, and as such the
company is banking on their reputation to maintain the level of
trust their company has cultivated over 21 years in business.
The importance of reputation in strategy is that it is an
advantage, and they seek to continue the same level of service
into the next decade (Goldsmith, p. 16, 2013).
· What is one thing we could do to improve on this strategy?
In strategy, to have the advantage over others in business is to
know the value of your company’s services, and to ensure that
its’ message is adhered to, especially in an established business,
the company is trying to stay clear to its’ branding developed
over two decades in service. By sticking to the tried and true
methods they have been delivering to customers, the company is
able to maintain their reliability (Goldsmith, p. 16, 2013). One
way with which Paul’s can compound on their success would be
to In order to have sustainable success, a company needs to
have capabilities that are unique to their value proposition in
the market that the differentiates themselves from that of their
competitors (Leinwand and Mainardi, 2016). One way that
Paul’s could ensure that they maintain that edge would be to
invest in their technicians that perform the tire changes and
minor repairs. Keeping them up to date on reasonable

8. certifications and ASE’s improves their ability to offer services
to their customers. Investing in human talent with current
applicable education provides value to the individual employee
as well reinforcing the reliability of the company.
References
Goldsmith, David. “Rethinking the Company's Competitive
Advantage.” Financial Executive, 2013, pp. 14–17.
HarvardBusiness, director. What Is Strategy? It’s a Lot Simpler
Than You Think. YouTube, YouTube, 23 Feb. 2022,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7Ik1OB4TaE. Accessed 18
Aug. 2022.
Kryscynski, David. “What Is Strategy?” YouTube, YouTube, 5
Jan. 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TD7WSLeQtVw.
Leinwand, Paul, and Cesare Mainardi. “Creating a Strategy That
Works.” Strategy+Business, 3 Feb. 2016, https://www.strategy-
business.com/feature/Creating-a-Strategy-That-Works.
Saylor Foundation. “Ch. 1 Mastering Strategy: Art and
Science.” Saylor.org, 2014,
https://leocontent.umgc.edu/content/dam/equella-
content/bmgt495/Chapter_1Mastering_Strategy.pdf.
BERNARDO’S POST:
To: Steve Wilford, CEO
From: Bernardo Cortes
RE: Paul's Discount Tires & Repairs 10-year Strategic Plan
Feedback
Date: 8/20/2022
1. What is wrong with the strategy?
There is nothing wrong with this strategy, and the strategy
meets the five unconventional business practices most
successful businesses use. It commits to an identity, translates
its strategy into every day with precision in mind, cuts the cost
to grow stronger as required, and shapes its future using its core
values (Paul & Cesare, n.d.).

9. 2. What is right about this strategy?
A well-defined strategic plan should clearly depict a company's
current and future state by connecting its target and limitations.
Paul's Discount Tires and Repairs based its strategic plan
around the four key areas: competitive advantage "by providing
the lowest price discount tires, vehicle repairs, exceptional
customer service, and quality work," its cultural values to
overcome the setbacks from the COVID Pandemic, cutting cost
as required to provide growth, and their plans for the next ten
years (Paul & Cesare, n.d.).
3. We are the market leader in discount tires and repairs in our
city, indicating that we currently have a competitive advantage.
Will we sustain it with this strategy?
Since Paul's Discount Tires and Repairs is the market leader in
discount tires and repairs in the city, the business will sustain
its competitive advantage with its strategic plan. They are
running their business using the five unconventional practices:
They commit to identity through a value proposition by
providing the lowest price for their service, having an excellent
customer service system of distinctive capabilities, and a chosen
portfolio of providing tires and minor repair services,
translating their strategy into every day by having a ten-year
plan of continuing service and providing quality work to their
customers, putting their culture to work sticking to its core
value which is rooted when the business first started—cutting
costs as required to grow stronger, keeping their employees
through challenging times, vice laying them off—shaping their
future to overcome the setback from the COVID pandemic (Paul
& Cesare, n.d.). This strategy is similar to one of Walmart's
strategic plans "to save people money by providing low pricing
(Edward, 2019). Nevertheless, being a market leader today does
not mean they will always be a market leader if they are not
finding ways to improve their services to maintain customer
loyalty.

10. 4. What is one thing we could do to improve on this strategy?
One thing they can do to improve their strategy is to include
human capital. Investing in human capital will allow for
employees' creativity, increase their satisfaction, and create
better communication between employees as well as employees
and customers.
Step-by-step explanation.
The comments and suggestions to Paul's presented strategies are
explained in the answer portion. The good points and areas for
improvement are being pointed out as to how Paul will
counteract the current effect of a pandemic on business.
References:
Leinwand, P., & Mainardi, C. (2016, February 3). Creating a
strategy that works. strategy+business. Retrieved August 20,
2022, from https://www.strategy-business.com/feature/Creating-
a-Strategy-That-Works
Ferguson, E. (2022, June 18). Walmart's Mission Statement &
Vision Statement, Generic & Intensive Growth Strategies.
Panmore Institute. Retrieved August 20, 2022,
from https://panmore.com/walmart-vision-mission-statement-
intensive-generic-strategies