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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Howard feel Starbucks' competitive advantage is?

2. What comparison does United Airlines make about its decision to serve Starbucks coffee on its flights?

3. What year did Howard open Starbucks stores in Philadelphia, Austin, and Pittsburgh?

4. Hired in 1991 to take Starbucks public, which firm does Dan Levitan work with?

5. How do the employees and managers react to Howard's concern for the low sales?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Starbucks begin selling music in their stores?

2. What is the result of the first Starbucks international store?

3. How is the quality problem of the coffee served on United Airlines flights solved?

4. What makes the 1995 holiday season so disappointing for Starbucks?

5. Who is Scott Bedbury and why does Howard hire him to work for the company?

6. What crisis hits the coffee industry and how does Starbucks initially react?

7. What causes the lowered quality of the coffee that United Airlines serves on its flights?

8. What key events happen on the year that Howard turns forty?

9. How does Starbucks choose the design for its stores?

10. What issues does Howard deal with as he attempts to keep Starbucks small while growing big?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Customer requests and employee ideas are taken very seriously by Howard and Starbucks.

1) Choose three examples of how customer requests were developed into new ideas for products and describe how.

2) Explain the potential risks that a company is taking by ignoring customer requests, and how Howard learns the value in being receptive to them.

3) Choose three examples of employee ideas that were developed into ideas for products and describe how.

Essay Topic 2

The author uses different writing techniques to tell his story in Pour Your Heart Into It.

1) Describe the use of flashbacks and several examples of how and why it was used.

2) Analyze the philosophical change in tone that takes place later in the book.

3) Explain the significance of the crystal ball reference included in the book's ending and how it relates to Howard's concluding inspirational message.

Essay Topic 3

Explain the personal and professional obstacles that Howard must overcome before moving to Seattle and working for Starbucks. Include descriptions and analysis of the time and work it takes to be offered a position with Starbucks, the sacrifices Howard and his wife make for the move, and the questions that his father's health raises.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 968 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample