A Critical Evaluation of Amazon’s Strategy, Strategic Choices, Structure, Systems and Culture
UNISA GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS LEADERSHIP
Assignment Cover
Code for paper/module/course MBA 721 & 722
Year 02
Assignment number 01
Student number Group 1
Word count NA
Tutor: Andre Vermaak
|Online Residential School |
Amazon.com
A critical evaluation of Amazon’s strategy, strategic choices, structure, systems and culture
Authored by: L. Gounden, C. Hendrikz, R. Ligault, M. Louw, P. Mathopa, A. Omer, S. Patamadai & V. Pillay
Date: September 22, 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Introduction 5
2 Q1. STRATEGY 5
2.1 THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT 6 2.1.1 MACRO ENVIRONMENT 6 2.1.2 Industry environment 9 2.1.3 Competitive dynamics 10 2.2 The Internal Environment 11 2.2.1 CAPABILITIES AND RESOURCE ANALYSIS 11 2.2.1.1 Capabilities Audit 13 2.2.1.2 Appraisal of Resources and Capabilities 14 2.3 Section summary 15
3 Q2. STRATEGIC CHOICES 16
3.1 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES 16 3.2 STAKEHOLDERS 19 3.3 CAPABILITIES & RESOURCES 19 3.3.1 ORGANIZATIONAL CAPABILITIES 20 3.3.2 Resources 21 3.3.2.1 Tangible 21 3.3.2.2 Intangible 21 3.3.2.3 Human 21 3.4 Innovation 22 3.4.1 MARKETING 22 3.4.2 Technology 22 3.5 Section summary 23
4 Q3. STRUCTURE, CULTURE, SYSTEMS AND ABILITY TO DELIVER THE STRATEGY 24
4.1 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE 24 4.2 CULTURE 25 4.3 SYSTEMS 26 4.4 ABILITY TO DELIVER STRATEGY 26 4.5 SECTION SUMMARY 27
5 CONCLUSION 27
6 BIBLIOGRAPHY 27
LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES
Figure 1 - Macro Environment factors 6
TABLE 1 - MACRO-ENVIRONMENT FACTORS FOR AMAZON 8
FIGURE 2 - PORTER'S 5 FORCES MODEL (PORTER, 1985) 9
FIGURE 3 - PORTER'S COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE MODEL (PORTER, 1985) 10
FIGURE 4 - A FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYSING CAPABILITIES & RESOURCES (GRANT, 2008:157) 12
TABLE 2 - RESOURCE AUDIT FOR
Assignment Cover
Code for paper/module/course MBA 721 & 722
Year 02
Assignment number 01
Student number Group 1
Word count NA
Tutor: Andre Vermaak
|Online Residential School |
Amazon.com
A critical evaluation of Amazon’s strategy, strategic choices, structure, systems and culture
Authored by: L. Gounden, C. Hendrikz, R. Ligault, M. Louw, P. Mathopa, A. Omer, S. Patamadai & V. Pillay
Date: September 22, 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 Introduction 5
2 Q1. STRATEGY 5
2.1 THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT 6 2.1.1 MACRO ENVIRONMENT 6 2.1.2 Industry environment 9 2.1.3 Competitive dynamics 10 2.2 The Internal Environment 11 2.2.1 CAPABILITIES AND RESOURCE ANALYSIS 11 2.2.1.1 Capabilities Audit 13 2.2.1.2 Appraisal of Resources and Capabilities 14 2.3 Section summary 15
3 Q2. STRATEGIC CHOICES 16
3.1 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES 16 3.2 STAKEHOLDERS 19 3.3 CAPABILITIES & RESOURCES 19 3.3.1 ORGANIZATIONAL CAPABILITIES 20 3.3.2 Resources 21 3.3.2.1 Tangible 21 3.3.2.2 Intangible 21 3.3.2.3 Human 21 3.4 Innovation 22 3.4.1 MARKETING 22 3.4.2 Technology 22 3.5 Section summary 23
4 Q3. STRUCTURE, CULTURE, SYSTEMS AND ABILITY TO DELIVER THE STRATEGY 24
4.1 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE 24 4.2 CULTURE 25 4.3 SYSTEMS 26 4.4 ABILITY TO DELIVER STRATEGY 26 4.5 SECTION SUMMARY 27
5 CONCLUSION 27
6 BIBLIOGRAPHY 27
LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES
Figure 1 - Macro Environment factors 6
TABLE 1 - MACRO-ENVIRONMENT FACTORS FOR AMAZON 8
FIGURE 2 - PORTER'S 5 FORCES MODEL (PORTER, 1985) 9
FIGURE 3 - PORTER'S COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE MODEL (PORTER, 1985) 10
FIGURE 4 - A FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYSING CAPABILITIES & RESOURCES (GRANT, 2008:157) 12
TABLE 2 - RESOURCE AUDIT FOR