read those of your classmates, pick 6 and give them constructive feedback according to the process. Be sure that the feedback is constructive and that you are actually collaborating with them to come

Theron Betsey 

This week’s collaboration involves Dr. Bono’s theory of the red and blue hat. The red hat is about feeling. This hat allow you to speak up and say exactly how you feel about the information or situation and help you understand the emotions and needs of others. The blue hat is all-encompassing and is used to create balance. The blue hate represents structured thought and self-control when making decisions it is the guide that controls the entire process (exploringyourmind.com. 2018).

Using the red hat, I feel like expanding the Easy Wheel business to Toyko is a bad idea. The vision that lead to the success of the company does not match the cultural background of the people in Japan. The uniqueness of the company will not be sustained overseas. For example the company website is geared to the American market, which means Dwight and Omar has no idea how to run a business on the Japanese market. Also both owners agreed to only hire veterans, which is difficult to do in another country. The company will be force to spend a significant amount of money to relocate veteran employees from America to Japan. Considering the veterans are will to live abroad for the sake of working with the company. I feel like the veteran employees expectations of living in Japan are unclear and the change will create conflict and expose the team to external threats that will result in the business crumbling from the inside (Gleeson, 2014).

Using the blue hat, Dwight and Omar should focus on expanding their internet presence and expand within the United States. Setting up a shipping and warehouse location in surrounding cities in the United States will be beneficial and will allow Dwight and Omar to continue their shared vision and operations of the company. The challenges of expanding to Japan is too risky at this time. Proposed changes that need to be address include business challenges, employee satisfaction and maintaining the company vision (Mallinger & O’hara, 2009) It is in the best interest of the company for Dwight and Omar to increase their knowledge and understand of what is take to expand in the global market. Once they achieve the proper training and experience then a strategy can be implemented to expand at a later time. The idea to expand now will compromise the vision that drives Easy Wheel’s success and the existing operation.

Kendall Harris 

Easy Wheels will not move manufacturing operations to Japan. Japan’s aging workforce has the potential to limit the ability to hire staffs for long-term stability. The Japanese government requires foreign companies to hire two full-time staffs or produce an initial investment of 5 million Yen (Japan Today, 2016). The initial investment equates to approximately $46,000. The hiring of staffs will require the development of a business partner(s) to facilitate the acquisition of the business managers visa, property acquisition, and arrange entry documentation for support personnel. The business manager’s visa will expire in 6-months and will only be renewed if the business is progressing and all other prerequisites have been met. Additionally, initial Easy Wheel personnel will be required to live in Japan during this period (Japan Today, 2016). Easy Wheels has enough reserve income to provide the initial investment. The hiring of two full staffs more than doubles the current staff operating in Alabama. If Easy Wheels wants to continue to hire only veteran’s, they will need to find veterans who are willing to live and work abroad. To employ personnel in Japan, Easy Wheels is required to take part in four insurances: Worker’s Accident Compensation, Employment, Health and Nursing Care, and Employee’s Pension. The Employee Pension requirement is waived for any US person Easy Wheels sends to Japan as per signed agreement (Shinsei Consulting, 2015). The requirements to set up manufacturing operations in Japan will quickly exhaust cash reserves. The likely hood of veterans wishing to live and work abroad will be challenging.

Theresa Gatton 

Wearing the red hat of feelings and the blue hat of control I find that this process is working to assist the group as well as myself to make a final decision and recommendation to Easy Wheels regarding expansion.  Some of the group ideas sound like very exciting opportunities such as opening a store in Tokyo, hiring veterans, and exposure to new customers globally by expanding their internet presence.  Conducting a risk-based analysis of both options is a sound business strategy.  Costs of expansion are just one very important part of the decision.  There has been a great amount of collaboration within the group all of which is helpful.  Technological literacy and creativity are imperative for leaders and employees to compete regardless of their business location (Gray, 2016).

Minhal Shah 

Red Hat of Feelings

            Easy wheels have the potential to expand its operations overseas and have the capacity to make appropriate sales in Japan. Expanding business operations to foreign countries allows firms to increase their market share if they become successful (Thomas, 2015, pg21). There would be higher chances of success for the company if it establishes operations in the Japanese city of Tokyo. The fact that most of the firm’s customers are from Tokyo would be an added advantage that would allow it to access market at its right position. Any attempts to succeed in the international market require existence of customers that can be understood by the management. According to Thomas (2015, pg29), the company has the right chance of success under these obligations and scenarios.

Blue Hat of Control

          Gary (2017, pg16) asserts that controls are the main issues that must be put in place to ensure success for a company. Controls involves understanding rules that government corporate culture and applying measures that dictates the internal operations of a company (Gary, 2017, pg33). Once Easy Wheels develops platforms that allow it to understand and conform to the laws in Japan then it would have an effective atmosphere for efficient business operations. The company would have capacity to meet its obligatory needs and ensure that it operates within the legal frameworks in Japan. Understanding the production patterns and the level of market structure would also enable them company to make an elaborate sales plan. This efficient sales plan would allow the company to make sufficient incomes from its operations and promotes its sustainability in the foreign marketplace. Chances of flexibility would be allowed to ensure that newer printing technologies are applied to design and manufacture new products for customers changing needs.

Steve Sanders 

The decision to move the Easy Wheels Company from Birmingham, Alabama to Tokyo, Japan is a big one. After reflecting on all of the variations of how such a move may take place, and the pros and cons for and against taking the company global has been perplexing. According to Mallinger, Goodwin, & O’Hara organizational leaders should provide all stakeholders a voice to influence their decision-making on polices and procedures (2009, para. 6). My feelings on whether to uproot Easy Wheels from its home base to a foreign environment is somewhat frightening. Although, I am fully aware that in this modern environment great leadership is defined by one’s ability to make adjustments quickly and decisively. But I do not feel that a quick move is in the best interest of the Easy Wheels organization at this time.

According to Boaz & Fox a leader must also be aware of their own individual profile, their habit of thoughts, and emotions to certain circumstances (n.d., para. 4). My emotions are telling me that this organization should proceed 100% with the internet expansion only at this point. Once Easy Wheels become well established in the Asian market via the internet, and the revenue increases can be fully accessed then the choice to move forward with a warehouse in Tokyo will be clearer. The concept of making organizational decisions quickly to achieve maximum leverage is quite brilliant, but there is also the concept of making hastily decided decisions that can prove catastrophic. Finally, I feel that in the best interest on this great company the leadership should aggressively pursue the internet expansion option and forgo a physical move into the Asian market for now.

Craig Teufer 

Week 7 Collaboration

This week's discussion will center around the first steps in the process wearing the Red Hat of Feelings and the Blue Hat of Control. Faculty will be the Blue Hat facilitator and when the Blue Hat is on everyone will follow the lead of the instructor.

The red hat of feeling are more about the emotions and intuition that the company presents. This could affect the company by losing money and possible shareholders. Having the hunch of a threat or of a good idea that they can move forward with, could hurt the company in the end. If the shareholders believe in positive outcomes and the thought of sticking with a business could lead to disaster. They could be waiting for that hunch that is promised be the cause of the sinking ship. Promising new technology and the advancements that is coming could lead to loss of jobs and essentially lead to the loss of the company.

            The blue hat of control is more of the chairperson or the organizer of the company. Having a chairperson or multiple individuals running the company could affect the company in a negative way due to majority voting. If it is not a great idea for the company but majority vetoes the ruling, it will not be placed into effect. Having control of the company is also a great thing. Organizers can rule in new advancements that can positively affect the company.