... ---- Jiachuang Sun 1. Review of Amazon’s strategy between 2007 and 2009 Strategic analysis Profiling the business: ➢ Mission: Amazon’s mission is to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible price[1]. ➢ Product/service analysis: Since the establishment of Amazon, new products has been kept adding into the original book category and Amazon has moved further to provide service. There are three product categories in Amazon, media category, electronic and general merchandise category and other category like Amazon web service and Amazon Enterprise Solution. This means you can buy almost everything from Amazon. ➢ Sales and gross profit analysis: The net sales growth of Amazon in year 2007 and 2008 was in average 30% and the total sales in 2008 was $19166m. In the same time, the gross profit grew from $3353m in 2007 to $4270 in 2008. Actually, both the sales and profits grew quickly since 2001 and they seemed to grow at a quicker way. External environment analysis ➢ Opportunities and threats: • Opportunities: to further improve the speed of delivery; international expansion in emerging markets such as China and India; extension of brands into new areas; through acquisitions and partnership to consolidate Amazon’s technological capability. • Threats: unexpected changes in regulatory...
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... Introduction Economies of scope and synergies in business operations are consequences of diversification strategies. It is possible to classify companies according to the type of diversification strategy selected. Unrelated diversifiers are companies that diversify across industry, while related diversifiers are firms that diversify within the industry (Kim, Hwang and Burgers 1989). Companies pursuing related diversification over a period of time have achieved superior performance than companies following an unrelated diversification (Palepu 1985). Amazon has started its business by selling books and music, soon after it incorporated online auctions for airlines tickets and hotel rooms, computer hardware, pet food and pet accessories, electronic cards, toys and consumer electronics. Whereas Amazon has achieved very high volume of sales and gained important market shares in the book industry, the company has never been profitable. As a result, in this essay, in order to determine if Amazon’s decision to diversify so extensively was a wise decision, we will firstly describe the firm business model and the reasons for its success. We will then try to determine if this business model is applicable to Amazon’s diversification strategy as well as the limit of diversification. And finally we will try to evaluate the limit of such strategy in an international context. I Is the business model designed for selling book on internet apply for different...
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...Strategy Recommendation Project Final James Bellew Capella University MBA6004 Section 01, Jan-Feb 2014 U06a1 Instructor – Dr. Rebecca Snarski Due: February 16, 2014 Table of Contents Introduction……………………………………………………………………………… 3 Brief explanation of Project………………………………………………………..... 3 Who is Amazon……………………………………………………………………… 3 Why did I choose Amazon…………………………………………………………... 3 Amazon's Channel Design including its use of the Web………………………………... 3-4 Web Beginnings……………………………………………………………………... 4 Today………………………………………………………………………………… 4 Amazon’s future including key strengths and weaknesses……………………………… 4 Amazon’s Vision and the changing Web…………………………………………… 4-5 Key Strengths and Weaknesses……………………………………………………… 5-6 Opportunity and Threats…………………………………………………………….. 6 SWOT Analysis…………….…………………………………………………………… 7-9 Amazon’s Ethical Challenges…………………………………………………………… 9 Changing Web Ethics……………………………………………………………….. 9 Ethical challenges for Amazon……………………………………………………… 9 Strategy Recommendations for Amazon………………………………………………... 9-10 References……………………………………………………………………………….. 11 Introduction Amazon is one on the world’s undisputed leaders in web-based commerce. Although they were not the first company to capitalize on using the World Wide Web for commerce, they certainly raised it to an art form. When you think of shopping on the web, you think of Amazon. Amazon perfected this channel and continues to innovate as the technology and access to web grows. Amazon...
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...Table of Contents Page | Title | 2 -4 | 1.0 Positioning in Relation to Porters GenericStrategies * Strategic Models * Stakeholder Analysis.....continued on page 5 | 5 | Value Chain Analysis | 6 | 2.0 Business & Corporate level strategy | 7&8 | 3.0 Alternate strategy * Critical reflection | 9 & 10 | Bibliography/Harvard referencing | 11 & 16 | Supporting Appendices | Total word count : 2725 Inc titles/subtitles. Amazon’s Strategic Positioning. 1.0 Introduction This assignment is to establish Amazon’s strategic positioning in Europe in correlation with value innovations that may have contributed to Amazon’s success from 1995 to 2012. About Amazon Amazon is an eCommerce business based in the U.S and was started back in 1995 selling books, CD’s and other media. However Amazon’s profits were only noted in 2002 and to this day have annual sales equal to or more than $40billion with a customer base of nearly 144 million in purchase accounts and over 2 million market seller accounts. In 1998 Amazon also extended their market to the UK with an agreed takeover of Bookpage.co.uk and has since managed to establish their second biggest and most successful market overseas. Value Innovations. Since reporting profits in 2002 Amazon has invested in innovations that add value to the customer, keeps interest and encourages ease of purchasing. Some innovations that have aided in the success of Amazon tend to allow ease of use...
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...Q&A Introduction CASE = AMAZON.COM IN YEAR 2000 Version: 4/12/10 This case analyzes Amazon’s growth strategies up to June 2000, and critiques Lehman Brothers’ credit analyst Ravi Suria’s report of that month. Suria report was one of the first to be publicly critical of the cash flow prospects Amazon and the dot com sector in general. He did this because he was a credit analyst and Amazon was rare among dot coms to have a lot of debt. The case provides a variety of learning opportunities: (1) an evaluation of a company’s strategy and performance from a credit analysis perspective; (2) an appreciation of the potential value of contrarian thinking in fundamental analysis; and (3) the analysis of the type of strategies and market conditions that fueled the dot com bubble. Q1. 1.1 Regarding the long-term viability of Amazon's business per the case: What was Amazon’s original business model? (2 pts) I shall define a for-profit firm’s business model as the set of plans and strategies for the future that the firm has in place for earning at least normal profitability in the long run. Viewed through the lens of a statement of cash flows, a business model requires: Plans for financing; strategies for converting the cash raised by financing into investments of tangible and/or intangible assets; and strategies for generating abnormal profits from those assets through operations. Note that in their investing and operating activities, firms are less likely to be price takers...
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...Amazon.Com’s E-Business Model Introduction Amazon.com was incorporated in 1994, and opened its site online in 1995. It offers the world’s biggest online book retailer by largest customer base over 30 million people. Besides selling books, Amazon diversifies itself by selling movies, electronics, toys, and groceries. Amazon also generates some of revenue from other marketing such as online advertising and credit card agreement. Amazon has organized systems in two segments, which are North America and International. Websites are also being individually focused for UK, Germany, France, Japan, Canada, China, and Italy. Other than those countries, Amazon also provides them internationally shipping for some products. Amazon succeeds in its online business, and gains more net incomes than some competitor on ground such as Barnes and Noble, and Borders. Amazon’s e-business strategy is a combination of products. The company started with online books then other products to gain customers in a wide range. However, offering a large product variety, Amazon has still maintained its strong brand. 1. Discuss the pros and cons of Amazon’s growth and diversification of business and specialization, and make recommendations about what Amazon could have done differently. Amazon plays strategy planning on the growth and diversification which objects to provide a “One Stop Shopping” for its customers. Amazon serves customers through the website focusing on selection, price, and convenience...
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...Amazon’s Executive Summary Amazon started off as an internet based company under Amazon.com, Inc in July of 1995 and operates as an online retailer in North America and internationally, which was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos and formerly known as Cadabra.com and has been very lucrative every since its existence. It’s headquartered in Seattle, WA (Bladeknight, 2008). Amazon continues to operate various retail Web sites, including Amazon.com, Amazon.co.fr, Amazon.co.jp, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.co.de, Amazon.cn, and Amazon.ca. Amazon specializes in a mixture of products, such as digital downloads, music and games, electronics and computers, movies, books, kids and baby items, toys, home and garden, jewelry, health and beauty supplies, apparels, grocery, auto, industrial items, tools, and sports and outdoors accessories (Amazon.com, Inc 2010). Their additional strategy is to focus more on their first new on-site store in Philadelphia. Amazon’s marketing strategy is to focus on their on-site store in Philadelphia, PA and push for it to be as promising as their on-line businesses. They will implements this strategy by continuing with their competitive pricing and beating anyone of their competitors’ pricing on any one items that is sold in their store or websites. Their consumers would be allowed to purchase products that are not on the on-site store shelves or inventory on-line and have the option to have it shipped to the Philadelphia location. The shipping would be free of...
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...“the earth’s most customer-centric company? How well is Amazon achieving this mission? Mission statements define who you are, what you believe, and why you exist. They lay out the guiding principles by which you run your business. They set the course and tone by which your organization and all your employees operate. Amazon’s mission statement is clear and bold. They seek to be the best-not the best online retail site in America or even North America, but the world-“Earth’s most customer centric company.” No one, no customer or employee can question this company’s focus and position. They set the bar high and they have backed their words up through performance. I think they are going good on it. They are making innovation of everything company does, profit and they are increasing their customer portfolio in every section. They are not stuck as book seller, they offer everything that they can do on the website. 2- What are the supply chain or demand chain elements essential to the operations and marketing of Amazon? Where are its warehouses located and why are they located there? How can the lessons learned from Amazon be applied to other forms of e-commerce and integrated marketing strategies? Amazon started in 1994 and opened its website for business in July 1995 with the demand for such a wide array of books could never be met by local stores. Amazon online retailer is located in Seattle, Washington a city known for being on progressive edge in variety of areas including...
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...the five (5) forces of competition, and choose the two (2) estimated to be the most significant for Amazon. This paper will further evaluate how well Amazon has addressed these two (2) forces in the recent past. Again, the paper will predict what Amazon might do to improve its ability to address these forces in the near future. Next, the paper will evaluate the external threats that affect and opportunities available to Amazon. The paper will also give opinions on how the Amazon should deal with their foremost threat and the greatest opportunity. Finally, this paper will determine the Amazon’s resources, capabilities, and core competencies; analyze their value chain to determine where they can create using the resources, capabilities, and core competencies discussed above. External and Internal Environment All other things being equal, the primary objective of any business is to obtain a larger market share, affect its bottom line, grow, and become successful. To achieve their goals, businesses must deal with their stakeholders which include: customers, suppliers, employees, competitors, shareholders, society and others. Businesses will encounter stiff competition domestically and internationally in a bid to achieving their set objectives. For a firm to have competitive advantages over others in the industry, it must be able to predict the future and understand the present. The firm should take into cognizance the internal and external environment of the...
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...France, Japan, Canada, China, and Italy. Other than those countries, Amazon also provides them internationally shipping for some products. Amazon succeeds in its online business, and gains more net incomes than some competitor on ground such as Barnes and Noble, and Borders. Amazon’s e-business strategy is a combination of products. The company started with online books then other products to gain customers in a wide range. However, offering a large product variety, Amazon has still maintained its strong brand. 1. Discuss the pros and cons of Amazon’s growth and diversification of business and specialization, and make recommendations about what Amazon could have done differently. Amazon plays strategy planning on the growth and diversification which objects to provide a “One Stop Shopping” for its customers. Amazon serves customers through the website focusing on selection, price, and convenience. There are million of unique products across 12 categories to be sold by Amazon and third parties. Amazon also manufactures and sells the Kindle E-book, which so far is the biggest electronic library. Customers can instantly download e-books, music or video from anywhere and anytime. It even costs less than traditional product such as a book almost half price. Additionally, Amazon is using two strong valued strategies, which...
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...of the company as it is today. The third section discusses three strategies that Amazon currently practices. The fourth section contains a look at the weaknesses and growth opportunities that are facing Amazon.com. The fifth section is an analysis of the company’s telecommunications structure and some of the unique offerings that Amazon has as a result of their creative initiative in the telecommunication field. Finally, the author provides some recommendations for the Amazon.com company and the CEO from the perspective of a consumer and someone in the technology field. Table of Contents Introduction 4 History of the Company 4 Characteristics of Amazon 5 Current Strategies 6 Weaknesses and Growth Opportunities 7 Telecommunication Analysis 9 Recommendation 11 Conclusion 12 References 13 Amazon.com is one of the leading e-commerce websites in the United States today. I personally know of several families who use Amazon not only for their music and entertainment, but also to complete the majority of their family grocery shopping as well. Amazon is a place where consumers can purchase e-books, a car, and snacks for their child’s classroom in a matter of minutes. It is one-stop shop at the best price for the consumer with all products from A to Z. While Amazon has grown from e-books to now selling almost everything in two decades, there is still some opportunities for growth in the business sector. The creativity...
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...movies, toys, pet supplies, and more. Amazon’s strategy has moved the Internet business from retail to competing with Google and Microsoft to offer data and information storage retrievable by uncomplicated software. Amazon’s use of e-business and e-commerce in the B2B and B2C realm continues to add services for businesses to reduce operating costs and increase the subscriber’s efficiency that places Amazon in a position unimaginable 10 years ago. Amazon.com is a business whose sole transactions involve the Internet to some extent. Unlike many traditional department stores, Amazon has no storefront from which to conduct business. Its entire operation operates via e-commerce or e-business. E-commerce is the sale, purchase, or exchange of items, including products and services, over a computer network. E-commerce is similar to e-business, but includes all aspects of a business, including developing customer relationships and collaborative efforts between companies. Amazon uses both e-business and e-commerce in its business dealings to achieve maximum benefit. Two types of e-commerce and e-business that Amazon.com uses are business-to-consumer (B2C) and Business-to-business (B2B) (Rainer & Turban, 2009). Amazon began as a B2C industry. By establishing a user-friendly website, Amazon was able to sell a variety of products to consumers from the comfort of their own homes. Founded by Jeff Bezos in 1995, Amazon’s...
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...Part 1: Describe the portfolio of new business services being launched by Amazon.com A creation by founder and Chief CEO Executive Jeffrey Bezo's, Amazon has grown to become the world’s largest retailer. Amazon's original Promise to revolutionize retailing is under scrutiny, as Bezo’s is seen to be taking the company to new different direction, from where it initially began. Bezo’s aim is to transform Amazon.com into a digital utility for the 21st century, where it runs the messy technical and logistical parts of other businesses, using the same technology and operations that power Amazon.com. Amazon’s quietly launched new business, are unrelated to its core retail stores and include; computing, crowd sourcing, Media, search, Distribution and Web Measurement. Amazons strategy is to make available its capabilities and resources for rent to all, suppliers, outsiders and retailers. The resources for rent include its many square feet of warehouse spaces worldwide to spare computer capacity, data storage on its disk drives and software codes written to coordinate all of the operations (Cravens& Piercy). Even though skeptics have claimed that Amazon is on the path to destruction, the organizations is focused to the big price, that one day all the investments and planning will pay off. Bezo’s’ reassures, that the company has in the past been misunderstood, which is something it is comfortable with. Amazon’s ability to innovate and to stay aware of its customers’ needs and preferences...
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...Page 1 of 27 Page 2 of 27 1. Executive Summary When Amazon.com started its business operations on 16-07-1995, with a few employees packing & shipping boxes of books from a two-car garage in Bellevue, Wash. The company's founder and CEO, Mr. Jeff Bezos used some of his time on the road to write the company's business plan when he was leaving N.Y. City for the Pacific Northwest. On its 15th-anniversary in 2010, Amazon is truly proud to be one of the world largest online retailers, selling everything from musical instruments and sports equipment to household appliances and apparels (Kayla, W. 2010). In our coursework group assignment, we are tasked to study and analyse the strategic management issues of Amazon.com. The case study will base on fourth quarter of 2007 as a current year. We will be evaluating the company's external and internal environments, how the company emerge into the industry by means of its strategies management in dealing with economic, technology & distribution issues and competition. We will also look at the company's vision & mission and it relate to the expansion of its product lines and reach, to increase its revenue and market share, and to understand and consider their possible near-term and long-term objectives that the organization could pursue. Lastly but not least, to out up recommendation for Amazon and conclude it with our learning experiences on BPS module. Page 3 of 27 2. Company Overview Amazon was founded by Mr. Jeff Bezos in 1994...
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...Managing Strategy 1 Amazon STRATEGIC ANALYSIS OF AMAZON Submitted for: MBA IN MS (MANAGING STRATEGY) TUTOR: PAUL ANDERSON SUBMITTED BY: C0411672 Managing Strategy 2 Amazon CONTENTS Title..................................................................01 Contents....................................................... 02 Introduction.................................................03 Section 1 Current strategic position......................04 Macro environment.................................... 04 Micro environment......................................07 Strategic Capabilities................................10 Section 2 Current and Future strategy..................13 Bowman’s strategy clock.........................13 Section 3 Implementation issues............................... 16 Cultural web................................................16 Kotters 8 step theory................................18 Conclusion....................................................21 Reference list..............................................22 Appendix..........................................................30 Managing Strategy 3 Amazon INTRODUCTION Amazon is an e-commerce platform based organisation established in 1995 by Jeffrey P. Bezos. Amazon.com is based in Washington, United States. Amazon is recognised as customer centric e-commerce organisation giving wide varieties, low price offers and convenience to its customers by offering services virtually. ...
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