Graded Homework

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 500 words. Apply APA standards to
citation of sources.

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

Grading Criteria
Initial response: • Was insightful, original, accurate, and timely. • Was substantive and demonstrated advanced understanding of concepts. • Compiled/synthesized theories and concepts drawn from a variety of sources to support statements and conclusions. •
Discussion response and participation: • Responded to a minimum of two peers in a timely manner. • Offered points of view supported by research. • Asked challenging questions that promoted the discussion. • Drew relationships between one or more points in the discussion.
Writing: • Wrote in a clear, concise, formal, and organized manner. • Responses were error free. • Information from sources, where applicable, was paraphrased appropriately and accurately cited.