A11

Crafting a Strategy to Fit the Business

The Web site Amazon.com once aimed to be the world’s largest bookseller. Now the company offers a wide range of products and services to consumers, operating online retail storefronts for partners and developing and selling its own manufactured products (such as Kindle).

Can a company like Amazon.com have a strong business model but a weak strategy? Using the Internet, find Amazon’s most recent annual report and peruse its main sections.

Based on your analysis of the report, respond to the following:

• How has the company’s strategy changed from the original generic strategy that was applied? 
• How would you describe the central elements of Amazon’s strategy?
• In your opinion, what elements are involved in implementing the following business strategies?
• A low-cost provider strategy
• Differentiation
• Diversification
• Market timing

Write your initial response in approximately 300 words. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.

Explain what you find to be the most helpful advice and why you would consider it a possible best practice.