B. Start-up issues
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B.1 Key areas to explore in section B:
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1. Would you even consider developing the Oak Tree Inn, hearing what you have heard and knowing what you know at the time period in the case study focused on establishing the Oak Tree Inn?
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2. What conflicts can you identify – for and against going ahead with the development of the Oak Tree Inn?
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3. Would you have persevered after rejection after each hurdle (on hearing the various challenges encountered by the Fraser family in trying to raise funding and then build the Oak Tree Inn, plus differing challenges within the family business)?
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4. Exploration of your attitudes towards and of your acceptance of risk eg going £150,000+ over budget; bank almost foreclosing; continuing with the vision for the Oak Tree when being told by “experts” that the location is a “tourism graveyard” and that there is nothing else like it on the loch side (ie with no TV, no juke box, no pool table, etc).
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B.2 Activity
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A reminder of key points:
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· Bought the site in late 1980s but didn’t complete build until 1997.
· Issues with getting the design completed.
· Issues in getting initial funding.
· Issues with the building phase.
· Issues with finance to complete.
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Now watch and listen to videos 11, 12 and 13
Video 11 – Challenge : the rural setting
Video 12 – Challenge : No TVs
Video 13 – Challenge : staff
B.3 Key issues to highlight
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Just four key issues to draw out from this activity:
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a) There was a clear vision as to what the Oak Tree Inn was to be, in terms of the completed building and in terms of customer experience.
b) Perseverance in overcoming many hurdles.
c) Very much the family business ethos to the fore.
d) When the Oak Tree Inn is finally opened the financial performance, far exceeds projections.
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What other key issues have you identified?
Now go back to the four points listed in section B.1. What is your position on each of these now?