Windhorse Farms

Terry Houston MBA 522-1b2 Professor Watson November 27, 2012 Executive Summary The contents of this case compend include an overall purpose to provide you, Professor Watson, with an understanding of the melody problem that Jim Drescher, owner of Windhorse Farm, must make in a point of a few days. Without rehashing much of the information that was explained within the case, the bottom ancestry is that Mr. Drescher and his wife must identify how they intend to continue making notes owning the advance without them supervising the business any more than.The reason being, that they are reaching a point in their lives that require retirement and realization that they allow for not be around forever. Problem Statement Above much, the get is go about with a few main decisions as to how to attack this problem. Among these involve him deciding which product lines he implys to grow, maintain, and/or harvest. This case analysis willing identify what alternatives that Mr. Drescher shou ld consider in going forward, considering the four filters (economic, environmental, social, and spiritual impacts) in conjunction with my recommendation on what I feel he should set to do.Analysis of Situation Acadian Forest Region The case highlights the importance of the Acadian forest region. end-to-end the life of Mr. Dreschers ownership of the farm, over 95 per cent of the harvest home in the region resulted from cutting trees down, making it 1 of the 6 peril forests in North America. This comes at an ethical and environmental terms for the farm. Because of the billet, the Dreschers countenance nail downd to implement sustainability practices within the region. Among these practices include educating the public about the situation and farm goals through Windhorse Farm School and having Open Farm long time.They also implemented organic gardening and alternative energy generation. Because of these impertinently adopted practices, market interest for continuity of such actions have change magnitude and continuing to do so. Wood Products Manufacturing Eco-Woodshop is the main source of income for Windhorse Farm, due to the note and advantage of competition that the farm has. The Dreschers have low overhead cost because they own the farm lands, making it more than possible to make a solid income. Tonewoods Guitar instruments makes up the large majority of wooden instruments made.Of those guitars, those made from expiration spruce tonewood proved to be the money makers. Yet tranquilize, producing these instruments added the economic and social costs of cutting more and more trees down. In addition, it would take the farm to sell about 200 tops annually just to adjourn even, while in their best year, theyve sold only 25. Having even the prospect to be prospered in this market requires Mr. Drescher to hire a area matter expert/ system of rules that had beliefs consistent with the culture of the rest of the farm as well as alternative tonewood that would sell, costing even more money. Evaluation of AlternativesWithin the case, Mr. Drescher understands that the bulk of what his decision comes down to is of two categories. With regards to tonewood, he had to decide if itd be better to grow the business or live on the market entirely. Growing the business required careful planning for the future. He also needed to identify the marketing of construction/architectural products. Doing so would require him to either grow the business, leveraging green products, or sell, thereof making the business fulfill more of a raw satisfying supplying role. Decision/Recommendation Theres obviously a lot going on within each option.However, it is in my down in the mouth opinion that Mr. Drescher and Windhorse Farm should continue its current operation with its Eco- Woodshop. For many years now, the operation has proven to be profitable, allowing the business to stay afloat. Along with the successful application of the various sustainabi lity practices Ive previously mentioned, there proves to be a bright future for the farm. Accordingly, making the public aware of important environmental factors of sustaining a forest region and providing green alternative avenues to do so will only improve the external and internal morality of the farm, in consideration of the four filters. Simply testing the waters for guitar production will not prove to be enough in considering tonewood. In coincidence to the Eco-woodshop operation, tonewood business success is far riskier. Even in considering another organization that can take the helm for Mr. Drescher to do well in this business, it would still come at more of a four filter cost than the Eco-woodshop operation and its sustainability practices ever could. Simply put, the majority of the culture for the farm would need to change completely, which is something I believe Mr. and Mrs. Drescher are not willing to do.