Boston Ducks

Boston Ducks Case Study

1. What is the predominant organizational typology of the Ducks? Why?

The Boston Duck Tours is a Promotional Firm type of organization predominantly.

* The founder, Andy Wilson is fairly idealistic in regards to his reasoning behind open the business; although he does see it as a profit making venture he also has ideas of sharing history that he gained from his “educator-social activist grandfather.”

* This matches with the promotional characteristic of “the objectives are exaggerated and appealing” to some extent of the business as well as shows the leaders enthusiasm for his idea

* This firm utilizes a fairly minimal hierarchy with Mr. Wison at the top as the founder, his management team of three others with the rest of the staff reporting to their respective managers. He also mentions how personal his connections are with each employee.

* He is “expanding his capacities” through a personal and technical support team.

* By bringing a way of doing tour in that is new to the city of Boston Wilson is exploiting innovation that has been used elsewhere. Because the innovation he had was so desirable to the market his business really took off.

2. Evaluate the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of Boston Ducks.

Strengths:

- Unlike other Boston tours, Boston Ducks offered both land-based and water-based tours.

- Tours offered by Boston Ducks were unique. Being perceived as moving theaters, each DUCK vehicle was painted and named in a unique way, and had thoroughly prepared drivers.

- Employees of the Boston Duck were well trained and treated, which in turn contributed to prosperity of the company.

Weaknesses:

- Wilson’s DUCKs could only operate in fresh water, thus leaving Wilson with room for expansion of his business only in the areas that had lakes or rivers.

- Due to weather constraints Boston Ducks could not operate in winter and early spring months.

Opportunities:

- Merging his business...