Only for A-plus Writer
Anderson3426
m1assignment_2071115.docxAssignment 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.
By Saturday, July 11, 2015, post your response to the appropriate Discussion Area. Through Wednesday, July 15, 2015, review and comment on at least two peers’ responses. Explain what you find to be the most helpful advice and why you would consider it a possible best practice.
Amazon. (2012). http://www.amazon.com
· Becher, J. D. (2005). Operational alignment: Bridging the gap between strategy and execution. Business Performance Management Magazine, 3(1), 11. (ProQuest Document ID: 218383095) http://search.proquest.com.libproxy.edmc.edu/docview/218383095?accountid=34899
· Bingham, C., Eisenhardt, K., & Furr, N. (2011). Which strategy when? MIT Sloan Management Review, 53(1), 71–77. (ProQuest Document ID: 896571132) http://search.proquest.com.libproxy.edmc.edu/docview/ 896571132/abstract?source=fedsrch&accountid=34899
· Efendioglu, A., & Karabulut, A. (2010). Impact of strategic planning on financial performance of companies in Turkey. International Journal of Business and Management, 5(4), 3–12. (ProQuest Document ID: 821297217)
· Lahovnik, M. (2011). Corporate strategies in the post-transition economy: The case of Slovenian companies. Journal of Applied Business Research, 27(1), 61–68. (ProQuest Document ID: 849563355)
· Peterson, B., Cox, R., Udell, C., & Easton, T. (2011). Agile execution: Driving strategic results in a changing aftermarket. Retrieved from
· Ting, C. (2010). Corporate competitive strategies in a transitional manufacturing industry: An empirical study. Management Decision, 48(6), 976–995. doi: 10.1108/00251741011053497 (ProQuest Document ID: 578010952)
· Voola, R., & O'Cass, A. (2010). Implementing competitive strategies: The role of responsive and proactive market orientations. European Journal of Marketing, 44(1/2), 245–266. doi: 10.1108/03090561011008691 (ProQuest Document ID: 237032252)
Recommended Readings
· Baines, T., Lightfoot, H., Benedettini, O., Whitney, D., & Kay, J. (2010). The adoption of servitization strategies by UK-based manufacturers. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 224(B5), 815–829. (ProQuest Document ID: 366296610) http://search.proquest.com.libproxy.edmc.edu/docview/366296610?accountid=34899
· Cadwallader, S., Jarvis, C., Bitner, M., & Ostrom, A. L. (2010). Frontline employee motivation to participate in service innovation implementation. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 38(2), 219–239. doi: 10.1007/s11747-009-0151-3. (ProQuest Document ID: 224871344) http://search.proquest.com.libproxy.edmc.edu/docview/224871344?accountid=34899
· Collins, J. (2009). From organizational challenges to real results: Getting beyond strategic planning. In Quality Digest Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.qualitydigest.com/inside/quality-insider-article/organizational-challenges-real-results.html
· Roberts, C., & Alpert, F. (2010). Total customer engagement: Designing and aligning key strategic elements to achieve growth. The Journal of Product and Brand Management, 19(3), 198–209. doi: 10.1108/10610421011046175 (ProQuest Document ID: 367186811) http://search.proquest.com.libproxy.edmc.edu/docview/ 367186811/fulltextPDF?accountid=34899
