Assignment 2: Discussion—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. 

Amazon. (2012). http://www.amazon.com

Grading Criteria  Maximum Points    

Quality of initial posting, including fulfillment of assignment instructions  16    Quality of responses to classmates  12    

Frequency of responses to classmates  4    

Reference to supporting readings and other materials  4    

Language and grammar  4    

Total:  40