MGT.Discussion9

Amazon & Zappos

This assignment focuses on organizational culture. Organizational Culture can be defined many ways but at its core, it is a system of shared values, assumptions, beliefs, and norms that unite members of an organization. Attached a document that outlines the three aspects of organizational culture, 1) visible culture 2) espoused values 3) core values. You are assigned to read two articles (attached). The first article is a Harvard Business Review article titled “The Ambidextrous Organization”. The second is a New York Times article "Inside Amazon: Wrestling Big Ideas in a Bruising Workplace". You also need to watch a short video ( attached) about Zappos so you can compare the work cultures of these two organizations.

You are required to answer all of the following questions. Answers must be well thought out and clearly articulated.

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think about the fact that Amazon owns Zappos? Clearly, the importance of organizational culture is known to both companies; can such radically different cultures successfully exist in the same organization? How does the O’Reilly and Tushman article reconcile this paradox?

2. Identify two of Amazons 'Leadership Principles' that you feel you would best align with. Why?

3. Identify two of Amazons 'Leadership Principles' that you feel would be the most difficult for you to align with. Why?

4. Compare and contrast the characteristics of culture and accepted behavior of the two retailers Amazon and Zappos. 1. Do aspects of the visible culture of these organizations hint at some of their

underlying core values?

DUE IN 24 HOURS