Course outline
Module 1
Module 1: The Early Days of Nike
The Early Days of Nike
Knowledge check
Q1. What was the name of Phil Knight's first company before Nike?
- A. Blue Ribbon Sports ✓
- B. Shoe Dog
- C. Nike Inc.
- D. Adidas
Why: Phil Knight founded Blue Ribbon Sports, which later became Nike Inc.
Q2. Where did Phil Knight study business?
- A. Stanford University ✓
- B. University of Oregon
- C. Harvard University
- D. University of Washington
Why: Phil Knight studied business at Stanford University.
Q3. What was the main challenge Phil Knight faced in the early days of Blue Ribbon Sports?
- A. Finding a good supplier for shoes ✓
- B. Getting funding for the business
- C. Marketing the brand effectively
- D. Hiring enough employees
Why: Finding a reliable supplier for shoes was one of the biggest challenges Phil Knight faced.
Q4. What was the name of the Japanese shoe manufacturer that Phil Knight partnered with?
- A. Asics
- B. Yonex
- C. Onitsuka Tiger ✓
- D. Skechers
Why: Phil Knight partnered with Onitsuka Tiger, which later became known as ASICS.
Q5. What was the name of the first Nike shoe model?
- A. Air Jordan
- B. Nike Cortez ✓
- C. Nike Dunk
- D. Nike Air Max
Why: The first Nike shoe model was the Nike Cortez.
Module 2
Module 2: Building a Brand from Scratch
Building a Brand from Scratch
Knowledge check
Q1. What was the name of the first shoe company that Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman founded?
- A. Nike
- B. Blue Ribbon Sports ✓
- C. Adidas
- D. Puma
Why: Before launching Nike, Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman started a company called Blue Ribbon Sports, which later became Nike.
Q2. What was the primary reason Phil Knight decided to start a shoe company?
- A. To become a wealthy businessman
- B. To provide better running shoes for athletes ✓
- C. To compete with Adidas and Puma
- D. To expand his business empire
Why: Phil Knight was motivated by the desire to provide better running shoes for athletes, especially after seeing the limitations of existing products.
Q3. How did Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman initially test the quality of the shoes they were importing from Japan?
- A. They sold them to local athletes
- B. They ran long distances in them ✓
- C. They hired professional testers
- D. They used them in official races
Why: Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman tested the shoes by running long distances in them to ensure they were comfortable and durable.
Q4. What was the name of the first Nike shoe that was produced in the United States?
- A. Air Jordan
- B. Cortez ✓
- C. Dunk
- D. Blazer
Why: The Cortez was the first Nike shoe produced in the United States, marking a significant step in the company's growth.
Q5. What was the initial reaction of the Japanese shoe manufacturers when Phil Knight approached them to supply shoes?
- A. They were excited and eager to help
- B. They were hesitant and skeptical ✓
- C. They refused to work with him
- D. They offered him a large contract immediately
Why: Initially, the Japanese manufacturers were hesitant and skeptical about working with Phil Knight, as he was an outsider to their market.
Module 3
Module 3: Overcoming Challenges and Failures
Overcoming Challenges and Failures
Knowledge check
Q1. What was the name of the first shoe company Phil Knight started with Bill Bowerman?
- A. Blue Ribbon Sports ✓
- B. Nike
- C. Adidas
- D. Puma
Why: Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman founded Blue Ribbon Sports, which later became Nike.
Q2. What was one of the biggest challenges Phil Knight faced when starting his business?
- A. Finding a good location for the store
- B. Getting funding for the business
- C. Dealing with competition from larger companies
- D. All of the above ✓
Why: Phil Knight faced multiple challenges, including finding funding, dealing with competition, and finding a good location for the store.
Q3. How did Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman initially test their shoes?
- A. By selling them in stores
- B. By giving them to athletes to try ✓
- C. By using them in their own training
- D. By advertising them in magazines
Why: Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman tested their shoes by giving them to athletes to try and get feedback.
Q4. What was the name of the first Nike shoe?
- A. Air Jordan
- B. Nike Cortez ✓
- C. Nike Dunk
- D. Nike Air Max
Why: The first Nike shoe was the Nike Cortez, which was inspired by the running shoes of Bill Bowerman.
Q5. What was the main reason Phil Knight decided to leave his job at IBM?
- A. He wanted to start his own business ✓
- B. He needed more time for his family
- C. He was unhappy with his salary
- D. He wanted to travel more
Why: Phil Knight left his job at IBM to start his own business with Bill Bowerman, which eventually became Nike.
Module 4
Module 4: The Power of Innovation
The Power of Innovation
Knowledge check
Q1. What was the name of the first shoe company that Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman founded?
- A. Blue Ribbon Sports ✓
- B. Nike
- C. Adidas
- D. Puma
Why: Before Nike, Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman started a company called Blue Ribbon Sports, which later became Nike.
Q2. What was the main reason Phil Knight decided to start a shoe company?
- A. To compete with Adidas
- B. To provide better running shoes for athletes ✓
- C. To become a wealthy businessman
- D. To expand his college network
Why: Phil Knight wanted to provide better running shoes for athletes, which led him to start the company.
Q3. What innovation did Nike introduce that helped differentiate their shoes from competitors?
- A. Lightweight materials
- B. Air Sole technology ✓
- C. Colorful designs
- D. Custom sizing
Why: Nike introduced Air Sole technology, which became a major innovation in the shoe industry.
Q4. What was the name of the first Nike shoe model?
- A. Nike Air
- B. Nike Cortez ✓
- C. Nike Pegasus
- D. Nike Zoom
Why: The first Nike shoe model was the Nike Cortez, which was inspired by the needs of runners.
Q5. How did Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman initially test the shoes they produced?
- A. They sold them to local stores
- B. They tested them on themselves and athletes ✓
- C. They used computer simulations
- D. They hired professional testers
Why: Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman tested the shoes on themselves and athletes to ensure quality and performance.
Module 5
Module 5: Growing Nike Globally
Growing Nike Globally
Knowledge check
Q1. What was the name of the first Nike shoe that became a success?
- A. "Air Jordan"
- B. "Cortez" ✓
- C. "Blazer"
- D. "Waffle Race"
Why: The Cortez was the first Nike shoe that gained significant popularity and helped establish Nike as a global brand.
Q2. Which country was the first outside the US to license Nike shoes?
- A. Japan ✓
- B. Germany
- C. France
- D. Brazil
Why: Japan was the first country outside the United States to license Nike shoes, which played a key role in Nike's global expansion.
Q3. Who was Phil Knight's business partner in the early days of Nike?
- A. Bill Bowerman ✓
- B. Jeff Johnson
- C. Steve Prefontaine
- D. John Hageman
Why: Bill Bowerman was Phil Knight's business partner and co-founder of Nike, and he was instrumental in the development of the first Nike shoe.
Q4. What was the name of the company that Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman started before Nike?
- A. Blue Ribbon Sports ✓
- B. Nike Inc.
- C. Shoe Dog Inc.
- D. Bowerman Sports
Why: Before starting Nike, Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman founded a company called Blue Ribbon Sports, which later evolved into Nike.
Q5. What was the biggest challenge Nike faced during its global expansion?
- A. Finding good manufacturing partners ✓
- B. Cultural differences in marketing
- C. Competition from other brands
- D. Legal issues in foreign countries
Why: Finding reliable and cost-effective manufacturing partners was one of the biggest challenges Nike faced during its global expansion, especially in the early years.
Module 6
Module 6: Lessons from Phil Knight's Leadership
Lessons from Phil Knight's Leadership
Knowledge check
Q1. What was the name of the company Phil Knight founded with Bill Bowerman?
- A. Nike
- B. Blue Ribbon Sports ✓
- C. Adidas
- D. Puma
Why: Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman founded Blue Ribbon Sports, which later became Nike.
Q2. Which of the following best describes Phil Knight's leadership style as portrayed in 'Shoe Dog'?
- A. Authoritarian
- B. Collaborative and resilient ✓
- C. Passive
- D. Uninvolved
Why: Phil Knight's leadership style is characterized by collaboration with his team and resilience in the face of challenges.
Q3. What was one of the biggest challenges Phil Knight faced in the early days of Blue Ribbon Sports?
- A. Finding a good office space
- B. Getting funding for the company
- C. Dealing with competition from Adidas and Puma
- D. Finding a reliable supplier for shoes ✓
Why: One of the biggest challenges Phil Knight faced was finding a reliable supplier for shoes, which led to the partnership with Nike Japan.
Q4. How did Phil Knight handle the financial struggles of Blue Ribbon Sports in its early years?
- A. He took a loan from a bank
- B. He sold his personal assets
- C. He worked multiple jobs
- D. He borrowed money from friends and family ✓
Why: Phil Knight borrowed money from friends and family to keep Blue Ribbon Sports afloat during its early financial struggles.
Q5. What lesson about leadership did Phil Knight emphasize in 'Shoe Dog'?
- A. Always trust your instincts
- B. Leadership is about making quick decisions
- C. Leadership is about perseverance and teamwork ✓
- D. Leadership is about being the best at everything
Why: Phil Knight emphasized that leadership is about perseverance and teamwork, especially in the face of adversity.
Module 7
Module 7: The Legacy of Nike Today
The Legacy of Nike Today
Knowledge check
Q1. What is the name of Phil Knight's memoir?
- A. "Shoe Dog" ✓
- B. "Just Do It"
- C. "Nike: The Inside Story"
- D. "The Swoosh"
Why: "Shoe Dog" is the title of Phil Knight's memoir, which details the founding and growth of Nike.
Q2. Which of the following is NOT a key factor in Nike's global success?
- A. Innovation in product design
- B. Strong focus on marketing and branding
- C. Ignoring customer feedback ✓
- D. Strategic partnerships and sponsorships
Why: Ignoring customer feedback would not contribute to Nike's success. In fact, listening to and responding to customer needs has been crucial to Nike's growth.
Q3. What was the original name of Nike before it became a global brand?
- A. Blue Ribbon Sports ✓
- B. Nike Inc.
- C. Shoe Company
- D. Running Shoes Inc.
Why: Before becoming Nike, the company was originally called Blue Ribbon Sports.
Q4. Who was Phil Knight's business partner when he founded Nike?
- A. Bill Bowerman ✓
- B. Steve Jobs
- C. Michael Jordan
- D. Jeff Bezos
Why: Phil Knight co-founded Nike with Bill Bowerman, a track coach who was instrumental in the company's early development.
Q5. Which of the following best describes Nike's legacy today?
- A. A declining brand with outdated products
- B. A leader in athletic footwear and apparel with a strong global presence ✓
- C. A company focused solely on men's footwear
- D. A small local business with limited reach
Why: Nike is currently a global leader in athletic footwear and apparel, with a strong brand presence and extensive product lines.