amazon.com 2021 case study summary

Product details

Amazon Assessment Report 2021

Executive Summary

Part I | The Amazon as a Regional Entity of the Earth System

• Chapter 1: Geology and geodiversity of the Amazon: Three billion years of history This chapter explores how geodiversity evolved over three billion years of history. It shows that periods of continental breakup followed by mountain building ultimately led to the fundamental physiographic subdivisions of the Amazon, and a wealth of landscapes, soils, ore deposits, oil and gas reserves, and freshwater aquifers. Data on the Amazon’s geodiversity support a central theme of the environmental sciences, that the formation of most natural resources (like rare-earth ores, hydrocarbons, freshwater aquifers, and fertile soils) requires natural processes to operate undisturbed over immense periods of geological time and across broad spatial domains.
• Chapter 2: Evolution of Amazonian biodiversity This chapter reviews the evolutionary history of the Amazon’s terrestrial and riverine ecosystems, involving geological and climatic events operating over millions of years and across the whole of continental South America. The chapter discusses the important roles of geographic barriers, habitat heterogeneity, climate change, and species interactions in generating and maintaining the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. This unique history produced heterogeneous environments and diverse habitats at multiple geographic scales, which altered the connections between populations and allowed for the accumulation of the most diverse biota on Earth.
• Chapter 3: Biological diversity and ecological networks in the Amazon This chapter provides an overview of biodiversity in the Amazon, discusses the reasons why this region is so rich in species and ecosystems, and outlines some outstanding ecological processes that make the Amazon an icon of the natural world. Featured terrestrial and aquatic taxonomic groups illustrate how much we know about diversity in the Amazon, and more importantly, how much we still do not know. A clear understanding of biodiversity levels and their spatial and temporal variations is crucial to understanding future stability under different climate change, land use change, forest fragmentation, and deforestation scenarios and informing conservation and restoration efforts.
• Chapter 4: Amazonian ecosystems and their ecological functions This chapter describes the diversity of plants and ecosystems in the lowland Amazon and discusses how complex regional gradients in climate and soil conditions drive regional variability in species composition, vegetation dynamics, carbon stocks, and productivity. The Amazon river network and its role in connecting aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems through organisms and nutrient exchanges is also emphasized.
• Chapter 5: The Physical hydroclimate system of the Amazon This chapter reviews the main features and large- to mesoscale mechanisms that contribute to the Amazon’s climate, its inter-annual and inter-decadal variability, and extreme drought and flood events. It examines the effects of extreme events on vegetation and the partitioning of precipitation into evapotranspiration (ET), runoff, flow seasonality, and floodplain dynamics; and describes the floodplain´s role in the biogeochemical cycle.
• Chapter 6: Biogeochemical Cycles in the Amazon This chapter summarizes the cycles of three key biogeochemical elements, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, with a focus on carbon, spanning both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in Amazon. The chapter also examines the emissions of two key trace gases which make substantial contributions to radiative warming, methane and dinitrogen oxide, and summarizes trace gas and aerosol emissions from the Amazon and their impact on atmospheric pollution, cloud properties, and water cycling.
• Cross Chapter 1: The Amazon Carbon Budget The main objective of this cross-chapter is to summarize the status of the Amazon as a source or sink of carbon (C). The processes and studies involved are detailed in other SPA chapters. The major challenge of determining the Amazon’s status as a net C source or sink at a continental scale is that many com-plex processes contribute to C fluxes.
• Chapter 7: Biogeophysical Cycles: Water Recycling, Climate Regulation This chapter assesses biogeophysical interactions between the Amazon rainforest and the climate. A historical perspective is presented, highlighting breakthroughs which improved our understanding of the mechanisms by which the rainforest interacts with the atmosphere.
• Chapter 8: Peoples of the Amazon before European Colonization Archaeology tells us how Indigenous peoples transformed nature in the Amazon over the millennia to the point that it is difficult to separate natural from cultural patrimony there today. It also shows that any kind of sustainable future for the region has to consider the rich Indigenous heritage manifested in archaeological sites and contemporary landscapes, and the contemporary knowledge of traditional societies.
• Chapter 9: Peoples of the Amazon and European colonization (16th-18th centuries) This chapter covers the history of the Amazon between the 16 th  and 18 th  centuries, including myths that originated at that time and persist into the present, influencing political and social relations. It also highlights the main actors involved in this process and their narratives. Finally, it shows how the extraction of natural resources has been accompanied by the subjugation and exploitation of the workforce and the development of multiple forms of domination and extermination, especially of Indigenous peoples, since the era of European conquest.
• Chapter 10: Critical interconnections between the cultural and biological diversity of Amazonian peoples and ecosystems This chapter explores the Amazon’s biocultural diversity, focusing on IPLCs’ worldviews, knowledge systems, livelihood strategies, and governance regimes. It synthesizes the main social and political processes that have led to the formal recognition of IPLCs’ lands and/or territories across the Amazon. The chapter highlights IPLCs’ critical role in using, shaping, conserving, and restoring Amazonian ecosystems and biodiversity, despite historic ongoing processes including violence, displacement, and conflicts between conservation and development agendas.
• Chapter 11: Economic drivers in the Amazon from the 19th century to the 1970s This chapter identifies the main economic processes that occurred in the Brazilian, Andean, and Guyanese Amazon from the 19 th  century until the 1970s. Specifically, the chapter describes the history of extractivism and the effects of geopolitical reconfiguration on the Amazon after the process of emancipation or decolonization. It analyzes the extraction of  quina  barks (species of the genus  Chinchona , Rubiaceae) and rubber ( Hevea brasiliensis , Euphorbiacae), as well as the resulting characteristics and practices developed by social actors related to the local and regional economy. It also describes the history and emergence of exploitation of oil and minerals (mainly gold), including the beginning of wildlife trafficking and the emergence of mechanized agriculture, intensive livestock, and mega-infrastructure.
• Chapter 12: Languages of the Amazon: Dimensions of diversity This chapter covers the extraordinary Indigenous linguistic diversity of the Amazon region, including its different dimensions: the existence of a relatively large number of languages in the region; how these languages are related to each other, representing an impressive genealogical diversity; geographical distribution over different Amazonian subregions; the effects of language contact that have resulted in several linguistic areas; different levels of endangerment and the social circumstances that contribute to it; and, finally, what is lost when languages disappear.
• Chapter 13: African Presence in the Amazon: A Glance This chapter provides evidence on the importance of African descendants in the construction of the Amazon and other tropical areas in the Americas, and highlights their importance for long-lasting sustainable development strategies in the region. It looks at both the cultural exchange and socio-historic perspectives, emphasizing land settlement patterns, natural resource use, and management practices. It focuses mostly on Brazil, Suriname, and Colombia, and emphasizes the importance of eliminating the invisibility of African descendant peoples in academic research and policy.

Part II | Social-Ecologi cal Transformations: Changes in the Amazon

• Chapter 14: Amazon in Motion: Changing politics, development strategies, peoples, landscapes, and livelihoods This chapter presents the major ideas, actors, and practices that have shaped the Amazon’s current development and deforestation dynamics. Outlining general periods of macro policy, it traces the evolution of today’s complex interactions among diverse livelihoods, conservation, and production systems, both legal and clandestine. It highlights how Amazonians have continuously adapted to changing circumstances while fighting to advance their own proposals for conservation and equity in development.
• Chapter 15: Complex, diverse, and changing agribusiness and livelihood systems in the Amazon This chapter focuses on recent changes in the structure of systems of production in the Amazon, exploring their implications for the region’s environment and society. It also highlights local responses to these challenges, and opportunities for more sustainable production systems. An in-depth quantitative case study on the Brazilian Amazon is presented.
• Chapter 16: The state of conservation policies, protected areas, and Indigenous territories, from the past to the present Two management classifications are the cornerstone of Amazonian conservation: protected areas and Indigenous territories. This chapter focuses on the historical processes, starting in the 1960s, that led to their creation, as well as the contemporary challenges they face and their importance for conservation.
• Chapter 17: Globalization, extractivism and social exclusion: Threats and opportunities to Amazon governance in Brazil From the 1970s on, the Amazon experienced its deepest transformation, becoming a commodity and energy provider for both domestic and international markets, through extraction of natural resources. Living conditions barely improved, and social conflict and violence became widespread, particularly affecting Indigenous peoples and local communities. Conservation efforts also became globalized and achieved significant results. Brazil’s 84% reduction in deforestation from 2005-2012, based on an integrated strategy with high political priority, provides an important case study that can support future policies across the basin. These gains were reversed in recent years, and unsustainable extractivist policies generally prevailed over conservation and the sustainable use of biodiversity in the whole Amazon basin (Chapter 18).
• Chapter 18: Globalization, extractivism, and social exclusion: Country-specific manifestations This chapter presents country-specific descriptions of human intervention in the Amazon, including the expansion of agricultural and extractive activities. The analysis contains two comprehensive national cases (Colombia and Ecuador) and three short studies focused on public policies (Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela). The Brazilian experience reducing deforestation is presented in Chapter 17.
• Chapter 19: Drivers and ecological impacts of deforestation and forest degradation This chapter discusses the main drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in the Amazon, particularly agricultural expansion, road construction, mining, oil and gas development, forest fires, edge effects, logging, and hunting. It also examines these activities’ impacts and synergies between them.
• Chapter 20: Drivers and impacts of changes in aquatic ecosystems Amazonian aquatic ecosystems are being destroyed and threats to their integrity are projected to grow in number and intensity. Here we present some of the main impacts on aquatic ecosystems triggered by infrastructure projects and predatory and illegal practices.
• Chapter 21: Human well-being and health impacts of the degradation of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems Amazonian forests and aquatic ecosystems are the basis for several ecosystem services, all of which play a crucial role in people’s livelihoods, human well-being, and health. Some of the most relevant and challenging health problems in the Amazon are associated with deforestation and degradation of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, including the risk of contracting infectious diseases, respiratory problems caused by exposure to smoke from deforestation and forest fires, and mercury contamination caused by gold mining. Here we demonstrate that environmental degradation affects the health of millions of Amazonians.
• Chapter 22: Long-term variability, extremes, and changes in temperature and hydro meteorology This chapter describes the observed and projected changes in temperature, river discharge, and precipitation patterns and extremes in the Amazon region, as well as their impacts and possible thresholds. The emphasis is on the effect of climactic extremes on biodiversity and ecological processes.
• Chapter 23: Impacts of deforestation and climate change on biodiversity, ecological processes, and environmental adaptation This chapter presents observed and predicted impacts of climate change on Amazonian ecosystems, focusing on biodiversity, ecosystem services, carbon cycling, fisheries, and emissions from biomass burning. It also considers climate and land-use change feedbacks and highlights knowledge gaps to better understand these complex interactions.
• Chapter 24: Resilience of the Amazon forest to global changes: Assessing the risk of tipping points This chapter reviews and discusses existing evidence of ongoing changes in the Amazon forest system that may lead to resilience loss and the potential to cross tipping points in which the ecosystem may shift either gradually or abruptly to a persistent, environmentally degraded configuration.

Part III | The Solution Space: Finding Sustainable Pathways for the Amazon

• Chapter 25: A Pan-Amazonian sustainable development vision Developing a clear vision is the central starting point for any action plan. This chapter reviews the main visions regarding the Amazon and proposes a Living Amazon Vision based on a set of values, principles, and knowledge systems described throughout the chapter.
• Chapter 26: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Amazon This chapter discusses the importance and limitations of the five SDG dimensions (People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership) in the Amazonian context. It also discusses the performance and trends of Amazonian countries in achieving the SDGs.
• Chapter 27: Conservation measures to counter the main threats to Amazonian biodiversity Human activities destroy biodiversity and disrupt the functioning of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems at different levels. This chapter provides sustainable approaches to address some of the biggest threats to the Amazon’s biodiversity and ecosystems, i.e., deforestation, damming of rivers, mining, hunting, illegal trade, drug, production and trafficking, illegal logging, overfishing, and infrastructure expansion. The role of restoration is addressed in chapters 28 and 29.
• Chapter 28: Restoration options for the Amazon This chapter examines site-specific opportunities and approaches to restore terrestrial and aquatic systems, focusing on the local actions and benefits. Landscape and biome-wide considerations are addressed in Chapter 29.
• Chapter 29: Restoration priorities and benefits within landscapes and catchments and across the Amazon Basin Restoration can be applied in many different Amazonian contexts, but will be most effective at leveraging environmental and social benefits when it is prioritized across the Amazon basin, landscapes, and catchments. Here we outline the considerations that are most relevant for planning and scaling restoration across the Amazon.
• Chapter 30: Opportunities and challenges for a healthy standing forest and flowing rivers bioeconomy in the Amazon This chapter highlights the paradox between the Amazon’s extraordinary socio-biodiversity and its distance from the scientific, technological, and market frontier of the contemporary bioeconomy. It discusses the current socioeconomic structures available in the region, as well as challenges and pathways for a transition to a socially-fair and sustainable bioeconomy.
• Chapter 31: Strengthening land and natural resource governance and management: Protected areas, Indigenous lands, and local communities’ territories Protected areas, Indigenous lands, and local communities’ territories play a critical role in holding back deforestation, maintaining regional and global climate stability, and – above all – protecting land rights. Nevertheless, these lands are currently threatened by political and economic interests that drive land speculation, agribusiness expansion, and illegal logging and mining, resulting in increasing deforestation rates. Governments are also reassessing and walking back territorial rights legislation.
• Cross Chapter 2: Legacy from the Ancestors: Amazonian Biocultural Landscapes and Global Sustainability in a Post-COVID-19 World Here, we provide three examples of Indigenous-led projects promoting sustainable development of Amazonian biocultural landscapes: the Amazon Sacred Headwaters initiative in Ecuador-Peru; the Ally Guayusa Cooperative in Ecuador; and the Amazon Hopes Collective in the Upper Xingu in Brazil.
• Chapter 32: Milestones and challenges in the construction and expansion of participatory intercultural education in the Amazon This chapter aims to give visibility to participatory intercultural education experiences across the Amazon region. It starts with an examination of the issues with the general educational system, and then presents case studies which offer different paths forward. These case studies reflect not only the importance of participatory education for IPLCs, but also how knowledge is itself a form of communication and political influence that helps IPLCs guarantee their rights.
• Chapter 33: Connecting and sharing diverse knowledges to support sustainable pathways in the Amazon This chapter highlights the under-recognized importance of ILK to conservation and sustainable development efforts across the Amazon, utilizing the conceptual framework of public participation in scientific research. It reviews a range of illustrative examples which articulate ILK and mainstream scientific and technical knowledges in conservation and development initiatives. We also consider recent policy recommendations and guidelines by professional associations and civil society organizations.
• Chapter 34: Boosting relations between the Amazon forest and its globalizing cities By providing a brief and non-authoritative analysis of the physical and cultural relations between rural (forest) and urban areas in the Amazon, we identify several points for improvement, such as economic incentives to encourage healthcare professionals to serve the countryside, implementing peri-urban agricultural belts to improve urban food security, increasing access to urban green spaces, and investing in innovation around the “smart cities, smart forests” concept. Perhaps most importantly, this would include mobilizing human, financial, and institutional resources to restore cultural, spiritual, and affective bonds between urban and forest inhabitants.

• Business Case Studies

Strategy & Execution

Amazon.com, 2021

Amazon.com, 2021 ^ 716402

Want to buy more than 1 copy? Contact: [email protected]

Product Description

Publication Date: August 03, 2015

Industry: Fabrication and manufacturing

Industry: Advertising industry

Industry: Retail and consumer goods

Source: Harvard Business School

In February 2021, Amazon announced 2020 operating profits of $22,899 million, up from $2,233 million in 2015, on sales of $386 billion, up from $107 billion five years earlier (see Exhibit 1). The shareholders expressed their satisfaction (see Exhibit 2), but not all were happy with Amazon's meteoric rise. Many traditional retailers in the United States were going bankrupt, while major competitors such as Walmart and Best Buy were forced to invest aggressively in online retailing to prevent their market share from eroding. Every retail sector appeared to be under threat, fueling anxieties that Amazon and America's other tech giants were becoming too big and powerful. These anxieties were only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, during which Amazon grew rapidly, while most traditional retailers foundered. Amazon's increasingly clear ambitions in healthcare and autonomous vehicles were also causing concern. In early 2021, Amazon was drawing criticism from across the political spectrum in the United States, with calls for it to be broken up. The European Union was also investigating its practices. Meanwhile, on February 2, 2021, Amazon reported that company founder and CEO Jeff Bezos would step down from his role and become executive chairman of the board. Andy Jassy, the leader of Amazon Web Services (AWS) would become the new CEO. How would Jassy navigate the many challenges to come and continue Amazon's record of success?

This Product Also Appears In

Buy together, related products.

Amazon.com (A)

Amazon.com (D)

Jeff Bezos and Amazon.com

Copyright permissions.

If you'd like to share this PDF, you can purchase copyright permissions by increasing the quantity.

Order for your team and save!

• Harvard Business School →
• Faculty & Research →
• November 2020 (Revised March 2021)
• HBS Case Collection

Amazon: Cult or Culture?

• Format: Print
• | Language: English
• | Pages: 40

About The Author

Boris Groysberg

Related work.

• Faculty Research
• Amazon: Cult or Culture?  By: Boris Groysberg, Sarah L. Abbott and Tricia Gregg

Amazon Com 2021 Case Study Solution Analysis

by HBR Eighteen

Amazon Com 2021 Case Study Solution & Analysis. Get Amazon Com 2021 Case Study Analysis & Solution. Contact us directly at buycasesolutions(at)gmail(dot)com if you want to order for Amazon Com 2021 Case Solution, Case Analysis, Case Study Solution. John R.... More

Amazon Com 2021 Case Study Solution & Analysis. Get Amazon Com 2021 Case Study Analysis & Solution. Contact us directly at buycasesolutions(at)gmail(dot)com if you want to order for Amazon Com 2021 Case Solution, Case Analysis, Case Study Solution. John R. Wells, Benjamin Weinstock, Galen Danskin, Gabriel Ellsworth Less

Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] Amazon.com 2021 Case Study Solution & Analysis Amazon.com 2021 Case Study Solution & Analysis. Our tutors are available 24/7 to assist in your academic stuff, Our Professional writers are ready to serve you in services you need. Every Case Study Solution & Analysis is prepared from scratch, top quality, plagiarism free. Authors: John R. Wells, Benjamin Weinstock, Galen Danskin, Gabriel Ellsworth Get Case Study Solution and Analysis of Amazon.com 2021 in a FAIR PRICE!! Steps for Case Study Solution & Analysis: 1. Introduction of Amazon.com 2021 Case Solution The Amazon.com 2021 case study is a Harvard Business Review case study, which presents a simulated practical experience to the reader allowing them to learn about real life problems in the business world. The Amazon.com 2021 case consisted of a central issue to the organization, which had to be identified, analysed and creative solutions had to be drawn to tackle the issue. This paper presents the solved Amazon.com 2021 case analysis and case solution. The method through which the analysis is done is mentioned, followed by the relevant tools used in finding the solution. The case solution first identifies the central issue to the Amazon.com 2021 case study, and the relevant stakeholders affected by this issue. This is known as the problem identification stage. After this, the relevant tools and models are used, which help in the case study analysis and case study solution. The tools used in identifying the solution consist of the SWOT Analysis, Porter Five Forces Analysis, PESTEL Analysis, VRIO analysis, Value Chain Analysis, BCG Matrix analysis, Ansoff Matrix analysis, and the Marketing Mix analysis. The solution consists of recommended strategies to overcome this central issue. It is a good idea to also propose alternative case study solutions, because if the main solution is not found feasible, then the alternative solutions could be implemented. Lastly, a good case study solution also includes an implementation plan for the recommendation strategies. This shows how through a step-by-step procedure as to how the central issue can be resolved. Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] Note: This article is just a sample and not an actual case solution. If you want original case solution, please place your order on the Email.

Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] 2. Problem Identification of Amazon.com 2021 Case Solution Harvard Business Review cases involve a central problem that is being faced by the organization and these problems affect a number of stakeholders. In the problem identification stage, the problem faced by Amazon.com 2021 is identified through reading of the case. This could be mentioned at the start of the reading, the middle or the end. At times in a case analysis, the problem may be clearly evident in the reading of the HBR case. At other times, finding the issue is the job of the person analysing the case. It is also important to understand what stakeholders are affected by the problem and how. The goals of the stakeholders and are the organization are also identified to ensure that the case study analysis are consistent with these. 3. Analysis of the Amazon.com 2021 HBR Case Study The objective of the case should be focused on. This is doing the Amazon.com 2021 Case Solution. This analysis can be proceeded in a step-by-step procedure to ensure that effective solutions are found. In the first step, a growth path of the company can be formulated that lays down its vision, mission and strategic aims. These can usually be developed using the company history is provided in the case. Company history is helpful in a Business Case study as it helps one understand what the scope of the solutions will be for the case study. The next step is of understanding the company; its people, their priorities and the overall culture. This can be done by using company history. It can also be done by looking at anecdotal instances of managers or employees that are usually included in an HBR case study description to give the reader a real feel of the situation. Lastly, a timeline of the issues and events in the case needs to be made. Arranging events in a timeline allows one to predict the next few events that are likely to take place. It also helps one in developing the case study solutions. The timeline also helps in understanding the continuous challenges that are being faced by the organisation. 4. SWOT analysis of Amazon.com 2021 An important tool that helps in addressing the central issue of the case and coming up with Amazon.com 2021 HBR case solution is the SWOT analysis. The SWOT analysis is a strategic management tool that lists down in the form of a matrix, an organisation's internal strengths and weaknesses, and external opportunities and threats. It helps in the strategic analysis of Amazon.com 2021 Once this listing has been done, a clearer picture can be developed in regards to how strategies will be formed to address the main problem. For example, strengths will be used as an advantage in solving the issue. Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] Note: This article is just a sample and not an actual case solution. If you want original case solution, please place your order on the Email.

Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] Therefore, the SWOT analysis is a helpful tool in coming up with the Amazon.com 2021 Case Study answers. One does not need to remain restricted to using the traditional SWOT analysis, but the advanced TOWS matrix or weighted average SWOT analysis can also be used. 5. Porter Five Forces Analysis for Amazon.com 2021 Another helpful tool in finding the case solutions is of Porter's Five Forces analysis. This is also a strategic tool that is used to analyse the competitive environment of the industry in which Amazon.com 2021 operates in. Analysis of the industry is important as businesses do not work in isolation in real life, but are affected by the business environment of the industry that they operate in. Harvard Business case studies represent real-life situations, and therefore, an analysis of the industry's competitive environment needs to be carried out to come up with more holistic case study solutions. In Porter's Five Forces analysis, the industry is analysed along 5 dimensions. • These are the threats that the industry faces due to new entrants. • It includes the threat of substitute products. • It includes the bargaining power of buyers in the industry. • It includes the bargaining power of suppliers in an industry. • Lastly, the overall rivalry or competition within the industry is analysed This tool helps one understand the relative powers of the major players in the industry and its overall competitive dynamics. Actionable and practical solutions can then be developed by keeping these factors into perspective. 6. PESTEL Analysis of Amazon.com 2021 Another helpful tool that should be used in finding the case study solutions is the PESTEL analysis. This also looks at the external business environment of the organisation helps in finding case study Analysis to real-life business issues as in HBR cases. • The PESTEL analysis particularly looks at the macro environmental factors that affect the industry. These are the political, environmental, social, technological, environmental and legal (regulatory) factors affecting the industry. • Factors within each of these 6 should be listed down, and analysis should be made as to how these affect the organisation under question. 7. VRIO Analysis of Amazon.com 2021 This is an analysis carried out to know about the internal strengths and capabilities of Amazon.com 2021 . Under the VRIO analysis, the following steps are carried out: • The internal resources of Amazon.com 2021 are listed down. Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] Note: This article is just a sample and not an actual case solution. If you want original case solution, please place your order on the Email.

Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] • Each of these resources are assessed in terms of the value it brings to the organization. • Each resource is assessed in terms of how rare it is. A rare resource is one that is not commonly used by competitors. • Each resource is assessed whether it could be imitated by competition easily or not. • Lastly, each resource is assessed in terms of whether the organization can use it to an advantage or not. • The analysis done on the 4 dimensions; Value, Rareness, Imitability, and Organization. If a resource is high on all of these 4, then it brings long-term competitive advantage. If a resource is high on Value, Rareness, and Imitability, then it brings an unused competitive advantage. If a resource is high on Value and Rareness, then it only brings temporary competitive advantage. If a resource is only valuable, then it’s a competitive parity. If it’s none, then it can be regarded as a competitive disadvantage. 8. Value Chain Analysis of Amazon.com 2021 The Value chain analysis of Amazon.com 2021 helps in identifying the activities of an organization, and how these add value in terms of cost reduction and differentiation. This tool is used in the case study analysis as follows: • The firm’s primary and support activities are listed down. • Identifying the importance of these activities in the cost of the product and the differentiation they produce. • Lastly, differentiation or cost reduction strategies are to be used for each of these activities to increase the overall value provided by these activities. Recognizing value creating activities and enhancing the value that they create allow Amazon.com 2021 to increase its competitive advantage. 9. BCG Matrix of Amazon.com 2021 The BCG Matrix is an important tool in deciding whether an organization should invest or divest in its strategic business units. The matrix involves placing the strategic business units of a business in one of four categories; question marks, stars, dogs and cash cows. The placement in these categories depends on the relative market share of the organization and the market growth of these strategic business units. The steps to be followed in this analysis is as follows: • Identify the relative market share of each strategic business unit. • Identify the market growth of each strategic business unit. • Place these strategic business units in one of four categories. Question Marks are those strategic business units with high market share and low market growth rate. Stars are those strategic business units with high market share and high market growth rate. Cash Cows are those strategic business units Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] Note: This article is just a sample and not an actual case solution. If you want original case solution, please place your order on the Email.

Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] with high market share and low market growth rate. Dogs are those strategic business units with low market share and low growth rate. • Relevant strategies should be implemented for each strategic business unit depending on its position in the matrix. The strategies identified from the Amazon.com 2021 BCG matrix and included in the case pdf. These are either to further develop the product, penetrate the market, develop the market, diversification, investing or divesting. 10. Ansoff Matrix of Amazon.com 2021 Ansoff Matrix is an important strategic tool to come up with future strategies for Amazon.com 2021 in the case solution. It helps decide whether an organization should pursue future expansion in new markets and products or should it focus on existing markets and products. • The organization can penetrate into existing markets with its existing products. This is known as market penetration strategy. • The organization can develop new products for the existing market. This is known as product development strategy. • The organization can enter new markets with its existing products. This is known as market development strategy. • The organization can enter into new markets with new products. This is known as a diversification strategy. The choice of strategy depends on the analysis of the previous tools used and the level of risk the organization is willing to take. 11. Marketing Mix of Amazon.com 2021 Amazon.com 2021 needs to bring out certain responses from the market that it targets. To do so, it will need to use the marketing mix, which serves as a tool in helping bring out responses from the market. The 4 elements of the marketing mix are Product, Price, Place and Promotions. The following steps are required to carry out a marketing mix analysis and include this in the case study analysis. • Analyse the company’s products and devise strategies to improve the product offering of the company. • Analyse the company’s price points and devise strategies that could be based on competition, value or cost. • Analyse the company’s promotion mix. This includes the advertisement, public relations, personal selling, sales promotion, and direct marketing. Strategies will be devised which makes use of a few or all of these elements. • Analyse the company’s distribution and reach. Strategies can be devised to improve the availability of the company’s products. 12. Amazon.com 2021 Strategy Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] Note: This article is just a sample and not an actual case solution. If you want original case solution, please place your order on the Email.

Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] The strategies devised and included in the Amazon.com 2021 case memo should have a strategy. A strategy is a strategy that involves firms seeking uncontested market spaces, which makes the competition of the company irrelevant. It involves coming up with new and unique products or ideas through innovation. This gives the organization a competitive advantage over other firms, unlike a red ocean strategy. 13. Competitors analysis of Amazon.com 2021 The PESTEL analysis discussed previously looked at the macro environmental factors affecting business, but not the microenvironmental factors. One of the microenvironmental factors are competitors, which are addressed by a competitor analysis. The Competitors analysis of Amazon.com 2021 looks at the direct and indirect competitors within the industry that it operates in. • This involves a detailed analysis of their actions and how these would affect the future strategies of Amazon.com 2021 . • It involves looking at the current market share of the company and its competitors. • It should compare the marketing mix elements of competitors, their supply chain, human resources, financial strength etc. • It also should look at the potential opportunities and threats that these competitors pose on the company. 14. Organisation of the Analysis into Amazon.com 2021 Case Study Solution Once various tools have been used to analyse the case, the findings of this analysis need to be incorporated into practical and actionable solutions. These solutions will also be the Amazon.com 2021 case answers. These are usually in the form of strategies that the organisation can adopt. The following step-by-step procedure can be used to organise the Harvard Business case solution and recommendations: • The first step of the solution is to come up with a corporate level strategy for the organisation. This part consists of solutions that address issues faced by the organisation on a strategic level. This could include suggestions, changes or recommendations to the company's vision, mission and its strategic objectives. It can include recommendations on how the organisation can work towards achieving these strategic objectives. Furthermore, it needs to be explained how the stated recommendations will help in solving the main issue mentioned in the case and where the company will stand in the future as a result of these. • The second step of the solution is to come up with a business level strategy. The HBR case studies may present issues faced by a part of the organisation. For example, the issues may be stated for marketing and the role of a marketing manager needs to be assumed. So, recommendations and Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] Note: This article is just a sample and not an actual case solution. If you want original case solution, please place your order on the Email.

Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] suggestions need to address the strategy of the marketing department in this case. Therefore, the strategic objectives of this business unit (Marketing) will be laid down in the solutions and recommendations will be made as to how to achieve these objectives. Similar would be the case for any other business unit or department such as human resources, finance, IT etc. The important thing to note here is that the business level strategy needs to be aligned with the overall corporate strategy of the organisation. For example, if one suggests the organisation to focus on differentiation for competitive advantage as a corporate level strategy, then it can't be recommended for the Amazon.com 2021 Case Study Solution that the business unit should focus on costs. • The third step is not compulsory but depends from case to case. In some HBR case studies, one may be required to analyse an issue at a department. This issue may be analysed for a manager or employee as well. In these cases, recommendations need to be made for these people. The solution may state that objectives that these people need to achieve and how these objectives would be achieved. The case study analysis and solution, and Amazon.com 2021 case answers should be written down in the Amazon.com 2021 case memo, clearly identifying which part shows what. The Amazon.com 2021 case should be in a professional format, presenting points clearly that are well understood by the reader. 15. Alternate solution to the Amazon.com 2021 HBR case study It is important to have more than one solution to the case study. This is the alternate solution that would be implemented if the original proposed solution is found infeasible or impossible due to a change in circumstances. The alternate solution for Amazon.com 2021 is presented in the same way as the original solution, where it consists of a corporate level strategy, business level strategy and other recommendations. 16. Implementation of Amazon.com 2021 Case Solution The case study does not end at just providing recommendations to the issues at hand. One is also required to provide how these recommendations would be implemented. This is shown through a proper implementation framework. A detailed implementation framework helps in distinguishing between an average and an above average case study answer. A good implementation framework shows the proposed plan and how the organisations' resources would be used to achieve the objectives. It also lays down the changes needed to be made as well as the assumptions in the process. Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] Note: This article is just a sample and not an actual case solution. If you want original case solution, please place your order on the Email.

Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] • A proper implementation framework shows that one has clearly understood the case study and the main issue within it. • It shows that one has been clarified with the HBR fundamentals on the topic. • It shows that the details provided in the case have been properly analysed. • It shows that one has developed an ability to prioritise recommendations and how these could be successfully implemented. • The implementation framework also helps by removing out any recommendations that are not practical or actionable as these could not be implemented. Therefore, the implementation framework ensures that the solution to the Amazon.com 2021 Harvard case is complete and properly answered. 17. Recommendations and Action Plan for Amazon.com 2021 case analysis For Amazon.com 2021, based on the SWOT Analysis, Porter Five Forces Analysis, PESTEL Analysis, VRIO analysis, Value Chain Analysis, BCG Matrix analysis, Ansoff Matrix analysis, and the Marketing Mix analysis, the recommendations and action plan are as follows: • Amazon.com 2021 should focus on making use of its strengths identified from the VRIO analysis to make the most of the opportunities identified from the PESTEL. • Amazon.com 2021 should enhance the value creating activities within its value chain. • Amazon.com 2021 should invest in its stars and cash cows, while getting rid of the dogs identified from the BCG Matrix analysis. • To achieve its overall corporate and business level objectives, it should make use of the marketing mix tools to obtain desired results from its target market. Email us for Any Case Solution at: [email protected] Note: This article is just a sample and not an actual case solution. If you want original case solution, please place your order on the Email.

• Related publications
• Add to favorites

Brought to you by:

Amazon Shopper Panel: Paying Customers for Their Data

By: Eva Ascarza, Ayelet Israeli

This case introduces a new Amazon program that has consumers upload their receipts from transactions outside of Amazon, in exchange for money. Through the discussion, the case aims to explore issues…

• Length: 8 page(s)
• Publication Date: Jan 7, 2021
• Discipline: Marketing
• Product #: 521058-PDF-ENG

What's included:

• Teaching Note
• Educator Copy

$4.95 per student

degree granting course

$8.95 per student

non-degree granting course

Get access to this material, plus much more with a free Educator Account:

• Access to world-famous HBS cases
• Up to 60% off materials for your students
• Resources for teaching online
• Tips and reviews from other Educators

Already registered? Sign in

• Student Registration
• Non-Academic Registration
• Included Materials

This case introduces a new Amazon program that has consumers upload their receipts from transactions outside of Amazon, in exchange for money. Through the discussion, the case aims to explore issues in customers' privacy in the digital age, the value of customers' own data, and the change in regulations aimed to protect consumers that move companies from using third party data to first party data. In addition, the case offers an opportunity to discuss the power dynamics of online giants such as Amazon, Google, and Facebook.

Learning Objectives

This case aims to familiarize students with methods for customer data collection, how customer data is used for marketing purchases, and current trends on data privacy and the regulatory environment. The case focuses on the launch of a particular data program (the Amazon Shopper Panel) whereby Amazon would pay its own customers for information about their purchases in other retailers. The case facilitates a deep discussion about the broader picture of value of customer data, not only covering how companies benefit from data, but also discussing how firms can responsibly manage customer data and how they should prepare to regulatory changes affecting the storage of customer data and the use of cookies to identify users.

Jan 7, 2021 (Revised: May 3, 2021)

Discipline:

Geographies:

United States

Industries:

E-commerce industry, Marketing industry, Retail trade

Harvard Business School

521058-PDF-ENG

We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience, including personalizing content. Learn More . By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies and revised Privacy Policy .

• About / Contact
• Privacy Policy
• Alphabetical List of Companies
• Business Analysis Topics

Amazon Five Forces Analysis (Porter Model)

Amazon dominates the online retail market through strategies that account for business challenges, such as the ones identified in this Five Forces analysis. Michael Porter’s Five Forces analysis model is a tool for the external analysis of business organizations. In the case of Amazon, external factors define the conditions of the information technology, consumer electronics, consumer goods, e-commerce and online services, and retail industry environments. Amazon remains the biggest player in the e-commerce market. To keep this industry position, the company regularly evaluates external factors in the online and brick-and-mortar business environments, such as through tools like the Five Forces analysis framework. The forces of competitors, like Apple , Google (Alphabet) , and Microsoft , as well as Walmart , and Home Depot , are addressed through strategic formulation that accounts for the influences of the Five Forces on Amazon’s competitiveness.

Amazon is an industry leader. However, external factors identified in this Five Forces analysis indicate risks affecting market share and business performance because of strong competition with large multinational retail and technology firms. Amazon’s generic competitive strategy and intensive growth strategies evolve as the market changes.

Summary: Five Forces Analysis of Amazon

Amazon competes with a variety of firms, including smaller online retail stores and large information technology firms. The global scope of the e-commerce business exposes the company to a diverse set of external forces. The following are the intensities of the external factors affecting Amazon, based on Porter’s Five Forces analysis model:

• Competitive rivalry or competition: strong force
• Bargaining power of buyers or customers: strong force
• Bargaining power of suppliers: moderate force
• Threat of substitutes or substitution: strong force
• Threat of new entrants or new entry: weak force

Amazon must address the major forces of competition, customers, and substitutes, based on this Five Forces analysis of the business. Competitive advantages and business strengths noted in the SWOT analysis of Amazon can mitigate and resolve issues resulting from such competitive forces. For example, the company can boost its brand image, which is among the strongest in the industry. Also, Amazon can address the external factors linked to the strong force or bargaining power of buyers by focusing on service quality. For instance, counterfeit reduction can improve customer experience in using the company’s online marketplace. Another recommendation based on this Five Forces analysis is for Amazon to counteract the threat of substitution by making its service more attractive. For example, the company can enhance the usability of its website to optimize user experience. These recommendations aim at increasing Amazon’s competitiveness and potential for long-term success in online and brick-and-mortar business environments.

Competitive Rivalry or Competition with Amazon (Strong Force)

Amazon’s competitors are strong and aggressive. This aspect of the Five Forces analysis model examines the effects of firms on each other. In the case of Amazon, the following external factors are responsible for the strong intensity of competition or competitive rivalry in the industry environment:

• High aggressiveness of firms (strong force)
• High availability of substitutes (strong force)
• Low switching costs (strong force)

E-commerce firms are aggressive, and they exert a strong competitive force against each other. For example, Amazon competes with Walmart, which has a significant and expanding e-commerce presence. Providers of online services, such as movie streaming and cloud computing, are also aggressive. Moreover, Amazon experiences the strong force of substitutes because of their high availability. For instance, Walmart’s physical or brick-and-mortar stores are substitutes to Amazon’s online retail service. Smaller brick-and-mortar retailers also compete with the company. Furthermore, low switching costs impose a strong force on the company. In the Five Forces analysis context, low switching costs correspond to low barriers for customers to transfer from one provider to another, or from one company to a substitute provider. Based on the external factors in this aspect of the Five Forces analysis of Amazon, competition is a strategic priority in ensuring the company’s long-term competence.

Bargaining Power of Amazon’s Customers/Buyers (Strong Force)

Amazon’s mission statement and vision statement highlight the company’s customer-centric approach to business. This aspect of Porter’s Five Forces analysis model determines the influence of customers on firms and the industry environment. The following external factors support the strong intensity of the bargaining power of customers in affecting Amazon:

• High quality of information (strong force)

Customers have access to high-quality information on online services, consumer electronics, and other products. In the Five Forces analysis model, this external factor affects Amazon in terms of the ability of customers to easily find alternatives to the company’s products. Also, the low switching costs make it easy for customers to transfer from Amazon to other firms, such as Walmart. Moreover, the high availability of substitutes empowers customers to shift from one company to another. For example, instead of purchasing on Amazon’s e-commerce website, a customer can easily go to one of Walmart’s stores. The external factors in this aspect of the Five Forces analysis show that Amazon must consider the strong bargaining power of buyers as a major factor in addressing business challenges.

Bargaining Power of Amazon’s Suppliers (Moderate Force)

Suppliers control the availability of supplies or materials Amazon needs for its operations, such as hardware components for servers and information systems. The influence of suppliers on the company’s industry environment is outlined in this aspect of the Five Forces analysis model. Amazon experiences the moderate intensity of the bargaining power of suppliers based on the following external factors:

• Small population of suppliers (strong force)
• Moderate forward integration (moderate force)
• Moderate size of suppliers (moderate force)

Their small population empowers suppliers to impose a strong force on Amazon’s e-commerce business. For example, changes in the prices of IT equipment from a small number of suppliers directly impact the company’s online retail operational costs. However, the moderate forward integration limits suppliers’ actual effect on Amazon. In the Five Forces analysis context, moderate (and limited) forward integration equates to a moderate degree of control that suppliers have in the sale of their products to Amazon. Moreover, the moderate size of most equipment manufacturers limits their influence on the company. Based on this aspect of the Five Forces analysis of Amazon, the external factors emphasize the moderate significance of suppliers as a strategic determinant in the information technology and online service business environment.

Threat of Substitutes or Substitution (Strong Force)

Amazon competes with substitutes for its goods and services. This aspect of Porter’s Five Forces analysis model identifies how substitutes affect the industry environment. In the case of Amazon, the following external factors support the strong intensity of the threat of substitution:

• Low cost of substitutes (strong force)

Amazon’s strategies address the strong force of substitutes, which threatens the e-commerce company’s performance. In this Five Forces analysis, the low switching costs show that customers can easily transfer from the company to substitute providers. For example, consumers can easily decide to buy at Walmart stores or other retail establishments instead of buying from Amazon. The high availability of substitutes and the low costs of their product offerings further increase the influence of substitutes on the company. Thus, the external factors in this aspect of the Five Forces analysis of Amazon show that substitution is among the priorities in the company’s strategies for long-term success.

Threat of New Entrants or New Entry (Weak Force)

New firms have the potential to reduce Amazon’s market share. The effects of new entrants are considered in this aspect of the Five Forces analysis model. Amazon experiences the weak intensity of the threat of new entry based on the following external factors:

• High cost of brand development (weak force)
• High economies of scale (weak force)

Amazon’s customers can easily transfer to new firms that provide e-commerce services. In the Five Forces analysis model, this factor empowers new firms to impose a strong force against the company. This condition is due to low switching costs, or the low negative effects of transferring from one provider to another. However, the high cost of brand development weakens the influence of new entrants on the performance of Amazon. For example, it would take years and billions of dollars to create a strong brand that directly competes with the Amazon brand. In addition, the company benefits from high economies of scale that make its e-commerce business strong. As such, new entrants need to achieve similarly high economies of scale to compete against the company. Based on the external factors in this aspect of the Five Forces analysis, new entrants are a minor strategic issue in Amazon’s performance.

• Amazon.com, Inc. – Form 10-K .
• Amazon.com, Inc. – What We Do .
• Amazon.com, Inc. – Who We are .
• Sforcina, K. (2023). Digitalizing Sustainability: The Five Forces of Digital Transformation . Taylor & Francis.
• U.S. Department of Commerce – International Trade Administration – Retail Trade Industry .
• U.S. Department of Commerce – International Trade Administration – Software and Information Technology Industry .
• Copyright by Panmore Institute - All rights reserved.
• This article may not be reproduced, distributed, or mirrored without written permission from Panmore Institute and its author/s.
• Educators, Researchers, and Students: You are permitted to quote or paraphrase parts of this article (not the entire article) for educational or research purposes, as long as the article is properly cited and referenced together with its URL/link.

Amazon Business Case Study [2024]: In-depth Analysis

How does an online book retailer become a behemoth dominating the global e-commerce industry? The 28-year-old history of Amazon’s growth is a masterclass in building a successful business strategy that has revolutionised the retail experience forever! The company has achieved eponymous status with a global presence and diversified business. No wonder its sales are expected to reach an astounding USD 746.22 billion with a valuation of USD 2 trillion in 2024! From being an online bookseller headquartered in a garage to becoming the second most valuable brand in the world , the saga of this global brand is a case study in all the leading business schools.  

So what is the secret behind the explosive success of Amazon? This article provides a comprehensive case study of Amazon and its winning business strategy. 

Study Product Management Courses online from the World’s top Universities. Earn Masters, Executive PGP, or Advanced Certificate Programs to fast-track your career.

Glimpsing Back: A Brief History of Amazon

With a small team, the budding company made headway in the book-selling market by offering a wide virtual selection of books compared to brick-and-mortar stores with doorstep delivery. With a user-friendly interface, easy-to-search engine, and focus on creating a ‘virtual community,’ the business grew by leaps and bounds. The emphasis on customer choice, experience, and convenience serves the company well even today. 

The name was aspirational with a nod to the largest river in the world- Bezos’ Amazon sought to be the largest e-commerce bookseller in the world. By July 1995, Amazon was marketing itself as the “Earth’s Biggest Bookstore,” selling over one million titles to all 50 states in the US and across 45 countries . It provided stiff competition to brick-and-mortar giants like Barnes and Noble and Borders. 

The company went public with its IPO in 1997 ; since then, there has been no looking back. Since its listing, the company has significantly diversified its offering by including music, electronics, toys, kitchen utensils, clothes, and more on its e-commerce site. From the Earth’s Biggest Bookstore, Amazon shifted its tagline to “Books, Music and More.” The company expanded to Germany and the United Kingdom by purchasing online bookstores, thus increasing its revenue. At its core, the company established a dynamic, efficient, and successful distribution and logistical model that helped capture a global market.

The year 1999 marked two critical moments for Amazon. First, the company patents the “1-Click” technology allowing users to purchase a product with one click. Second, it launches the 3rd party seller marketplace to allow third-party sellers to sell their produce through Amazon. These measures exponentially increased the sales on the platform. The company’s success put Bezos on the map as he received the prestigious accolade of the “Time’s Person of the Year” in 1999 at 35 years of age. 

The company survived the dot-com bubble burst and got only stronger. In 2003, the company took a momentous step by launching Amazon Web Services , a web-hosting business, that marked its arrival into the tech business. It provides cloud computing services to individual developers, companies, and governments through the platform’s IT infrastructure. The strategic shift from an e-commerce platform to a tech company was instrumental in Amazon’s diversification strategy and revenue generation. 

The company took further measures to develop brand loyalty through its Amazon Prime program in 2005. Prime membership has since expanded its services significantly and is one of the most valuable assets for the company today. It reshaped consumer expectations and experiences of shopping across the world. 

Amazon has been on a path of extensive acquisition and alliance . From the online shoe retailer Zappos to the robotics company Kiva Systems and the grocery delivery service Whole Foods- each acquisition captured pre-existing markets and distribution networks of the acquired assets. With every move, the company strategically entered new markets, removed competitive businesses by acquiring them, made distribution and logistics more efficient, and improved consumer experience. These moves catapulted the company to a 1 trillion dollar valuation in 2018. The company’s profits surged during the pandemic as Bezos’ hourly wealth increased by USD 11.7 million . The following year, Bezos stepped down as the CEO and found his replacement in Andy Jassy, the CEO of Amazon Web Services.

Now that we know the history of Amazon, its business strategy becomes easier to decipher. Before we unravel its key business strategies, let’s look at its many businesses. 

Amazon and its Diversified Business Model

A case study of Amazon is incomplete without an understanding of the many businesses that it has a foot in. Here are the diverse businesses that help Amazon generate revenues from multiple streams and have made it a leader in the global market. 

Online retail store

Amazon began as an online seller of books, and it continues its operations as an e-commerce site. Today the site offers a variety of products for the best prices to the consumer’s doorsteps. With an easy-to-use interface, easy return policy, “1-Click” buying, customer reviews, and suggestions, the e-commerce site knits an unrivalled retail experience. 

Amazon Marketplace

Amazon opened its platform to third-party sellers who could leverage its large customer base to sell products. It brings a diversity of products to the retailer without holding inventory. Amazon would, in turn, charge the sellers a percentage of their revenue as a commission fee. It is estimated that third-party sellers generate a gross merchandise value (GMV) of USD 300 billion for the platform.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Amazon’s cloud platform offers individual developers, start-ups, established businesses, and governments a range of cloud computing services through its IT infrastructure. It is the fastest-growing business segment for the brand clocking a global net revenue of USD 80.1 billion in 2022. 

Amazon Prime

Amazon’s member subscription service offers numerous membership benefits ranging from access to digital video and music streaming, audiobook and ebook platforms, free delivery, exclusive deals, Prime Day access, and much more. The company’s global net revenue from its subscription services stood at USD 35.22 billion in 2022. 

Amazon revealed in 2022 that the advertising wing of the company had generated a revenue of USD 31.2 billion the preceding year. The company offers custom advertising solutions to customers and campaign placements across multiple channels like Fire TV placements, Amazon physical stores, the brand’s homepage, and customised destination pages.

Physical stores

Amazon made an entry into the brick-and-mortar business with the establishment of a physical bookstore in Seattle in 2015. The company has since expanded its physical presence with Amazon Go, Amazon Fresh, Amazon Go Grocery, Whole Foods Market, and Amazon Style. It has sought to transform the real-world shopping experience with its “Just Walk Out Shopping’ experience. 

Breaking Down Amazon’s Business Strategy

Amazon’s business strategy has been innovative and forward-thinking from the get-go. Its path-breaking business model has inspired many but retains its uniqueness in execution. At its core, the company has maintained its customer-centric ethos, where its customers comprise three sets: retail customers, seller customers, and developer customers.   

For a comprehensive case study of Amazon , let’s take a closer look at the secret recipe behind its success.

Customer Obsession

The company proudly proclaims that it aims to be the “Earth’s most customer-centric company.” Since its inception, Amazon has won over the trust and loyalty of its customers by perfecting its marketing mix by offering “a comprehensive selection of products, low prices, fast and free delivery, easy-to-use functionality, and timely customer service.”   As Amazon’s customer base and usage expands exponentially, the company has worked towards optimising user experience through continuous assessment and feedback mechanisms.

Diversification

Amazon has kept up with the emerging demands of the market with growth potential in the long term. Its future-oriented vision has helped the company grow by leaps and bounds by venturing into new businesses that have added to its revenue streams. From cloud computing services to OTT services and subscription-based benefits, Amazon has reinvented what a diversified business looks like. 

Expansion through partnerships and acquisitions

Amazon has continually acquired and partnered with businesses to expand its customer base, enter new markets, diversify its product offerings, eliminate competition, and gain distribution and logistical networks. From IMDB and The Washington Post to Twitch and Pillpack, Amazon has bought companies across multiple categories to gain a foothold in their markets and operations. It has helped the company scale up its functions rapidly across the globe.

Technologically-driven innovations

Initially, Amazon was written off as it was started by “computer guys” who knew nothing about selling books. However, it was a focus on innovative technology that the company grew into a tech giant dominating the e-commerce space. Whether it is the 1-Click technology, SEO, user interface, cloud computing services, Just Walk Out technology, or its e-devices, the company has optimised customer experience by leveraging technology.

Data-based metrics

Amazon has consistently relied on metrics to assess, strategise, and grow its business. Data is an invaluable currency left behind with every click by the customer. The company has effectively and efficiently amassed these data into actionable insights to improve user experience, build and improve products and services, and develop successful marketing strategies. 

Marketing strategy

A comprehensive marketing strategy has been central to Amazon’s brand-building exercise. With the right marketing mix, the brand has become a household name. Its name and logo are recognisable anywhere in the world. A continual push to diversify its portfolio, competitive pricing policy, expanding its operations, and consistent promotions through multiple channels have been integral to achieving this global status. 

Explore our Popular Management Courses

Amazon, the second-most valuable company in the world, has been almost three decades in the making. Every step and misstep has been strategic and guided by the principles of: “customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking.” This case study of Amazon has sought to highlight its history, business model, and business strategies that have gone into the making of the behemoth. Ultimately, the company is a product of the management of Jeff Bezos and Amazon’s leadership. 

Top Management Skills to Learn

Do you want to learn the tricks of the trade that makes the brightest management minds tick?

Leap into the sphere of management with upGrad!

The Advanced General Management Program by upGrad will guide you in the right direction in your management journey. Learn from the world-class faculty from one of India’s premier B-schools- Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad. The program offers a comprehensive syllabus covering subjects like Business Growth Strategies, Leadership, Structured Thinking and Problem Solving, and Project Management skills. The 11-month course offers 1:1 mentoring and placement assistance, too. 

Enrol now to unleash your potential!

Our Top Management Articles

You can also check out our free courses offered by upGrad in Management, Data Science, Machine Learning, Digital Marketing, and Technology. All of these courses have top-notch learning resources, weekly live lectures, industry assignments, and a certificate of course completion – all free of cost!

Jitesh Goel

Something went wrong

Our Trending Product Management Courses

• Post Graduate Certificate in Product Management
• PG Program in Management

Our Popular Product Management Course

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Jeff Bezos has held the position of Founder and CEO of the company. However, he inherited the position of the Executive Chairman of Amazon after resigning as the CEO of the company in 2021.

Amazon launched in India in June 2013. Initially starting its operations to serve Indians with books, films, TV shows and subscription-based services, the company further expanded its wings to become one of the leading shopping destinations for Indians.

The most important focal point of Amazon’s business strategy is its customers (retail customers, sellers, and developers) and building a customer-centric company.

Related Programs View All

Certification

16 Hrs Live Expert-Led Sessions

14 Case Studies, 3 Mock Tests

View Program

Master's Degree

Dual Credentials

Job Assistance

16+ Hrs Expert-Led Sessions

5 Simulation Exams, 8 Mock Tests

24 Hrs Live Expert-Led Training

Earn 24 PDUs and 24 SEUs

36 Hrs Live Expert-Led Training

Premium 2000+ Question Bank

32 Hrs Live Expert-Led Training

Earn 32 PDUs and SEUs

Complimentary On-Demand Course

1 Year SAFe® Community Membership

88 Hours On-Demand Learning

100% Exam-Pass Guarantee

16 Hrs Live Expert-Led Training

Earn 16 PDUs and 16 SEUs

AACSB accredited

Training by Top-Notch SPCs

3 Day Leadership Summit in Dubai

Ivy League School

Executive PG Program

Offline Campus Experience

PG Certification

6-10.5 Months

2500+ Students Enrolled

EQUIS & AMBA Accredited

Executive Coaching

Simulations, 5 Mock Tests

Instructor Led Model

16-Hrs Live Expert-Led Sessions

Earn 16 SEUs and 16 PDUs

16+ Hrs Expert-Led Training

AMBA, AACSB & NIRF Accreditation

24+ Hrs Expert-Led Sessions

Simulation Exams, 24 PDUs

35 Hrs Live Expert-Led Training

35 PD Hrs, 35 CDUs & 35 PDUs

24-Hrs Live Expert-Led Sessions

Activities and Case Studies

8+ Hrs Expert-Led Sessions

Interactive Sessions, Activities

36+ Expert-Led Training

5 Simulation Exams, Projects

21 Hrs Live Expert-Led Training

Earn 21 CDUs and 21 PDUs

2-Day Live Expert-led Training

Simulations, 4 Mock Tests

16 Hours of Instructor-Led Sessions

Simulation Exams and Mock Tests

Earn 16 PDUs and 16 SEUs

24-Hrs Live Expert-Led Training

Earn 24 SEUs and 24 PDUs

Explore Free Courses

Learn more about the education system, top universities, entrance tests, course information, and employment opportunities in Canada through this course.

Advance your career in the field of marketing with Industry relevant free courses

Build your foundation in one of the hottest industry of the 21st century

Master industry-relevant skills that are required to become a leader and drive organizational success

Build essential technical skills to move forward in your career in these evolving times

Get insights from industry leaders and career counselors and learn how to stay ahead in your career

Kickstart your career in law by building a solid foundation with these relevant free courses.

Stay ahead of the curve and upskill yourself on Generative AI and ChatGPT

Build your confidence by learning essential soft skills to help you become an Industry ready professional.

Learn more about the education system, top universities, entrance tests, course information, and employment opportunities in USA through this course.

Suggested Blogs

by Dilip Guru

24 Jan 2024

25 Sep 2023

24 Sep 2023

by Jitesh Goel

19 Sep 2023

by Keerthi Shivakumar

18 Sep 2023

12 Sep 2023

28 Aug 2023

08 Jul 2023

The marketplace for case solutions.

Amazon.com, Inc. – Case Solution

Amazon.com, Inc. is a retailer site that uses a sales-revenue model. It receives a small percentage from the sale of every product sold via its website. Its revenue is recorded to be approximately 135.98 billion dollars with an operating income of 4.186 billion dollars. It has 83.402 billion total assets and 19.285 billion dollars in total equity. Acquisitions have enabled the company to diversify and reach a broader market. However, with the increased competition from companies like Apple, Alphabet, Microsoft, Alibaba, and Walmart, the company must be managed well in order to be more profitable.

​Frank T. Rothaermel Harvard Business Review ( MH0053-PDF-ENG ) May 25, 2017

Case questions answered:

Case study questions answered in the first solution:

• Evaluate the macro and micro-environments of Amazon Inc.
• Evaluate its growth and business strategies.

Case study questions answered in the second solution:

• Analyze the business ­level strategies for the corporation you chose to determine the business-level strategy you think is most important to the long ­term success of the firm and whether or not you judge this to be a good choice. Justify your opinion.
• Analyze the corporate ­level strategies for the corporation you chose to determine the corporate ­level strategy you think is most important to the long ­term success of the firm and whether or not you judge this to be a good choice. Justify your opinion.
• Analyze the competitive environment to determine the corporation’s most significant competitor. Compare their strategies at each level and evaluate which company you think is most likely to be successful in the long term. Justify your choice.

Not the questions you were looking for? Submit your own questions & get answers .

Amazon.com, Inc. Case Answers

You will receive access to two case study solutions! The second is not yet visible in the preview.

Executive summary – Amazon.com, Inc.

Amazoncom, Inc. is an international company recognized for its e-commerce services. Amazon was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos in Washington.

In July 1995, it sold its first book and quickly developed to be the world’s most prominent online retailer (Shaughnessy, 2012). Amazon extended its services and products via a succession of an alliance, exclusivity agreements, partnerships, and acquisitions.

Despite its success, Amazon encounters several challenges, including high competition and state government regulation in taxation.  It has attracted significant attention due to its increasing population. The use of internet traffic and platforms to capture a broad market is a substantial advantage for the company.

What attracts consumers to Amazon online shopping is the convenience, ease of use, low prices, appropriate customer services, safe/easy transactions, fast-accurate search for products, numerous products available for selection, and fast, dependable deliveries. Amazon is dedicated to improving the customer experience.

Amazon.com, Inc. is a retail site that uses a sales-revenue model; the company receives a small percentage from the sale of every product sold via its website.

Its revenue is recorded to be approximately 135.98 billion dollars, with an operating income of 4.186 billion dollars. It has 83.402 billion in total assets and 19.285 billion dollars in total equity.

It has become a high-technology company due to its investment in innovation and partnership. Acquisitions have enabled the company to diversify and reach a broader market.

History of Amazon

Amazon is an e-commerce organization located in Seattle, Washington, United States. Its distinction is that it is among the first establishments to sell products via the Internet.

The company was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994. It began as an online bookstore but later diversified into a retailer of many products (Shaughnessy, 2012).

Amazon accomplished its first public offering, which resulted in its common stock being included in the Global Select Market (NASDAQ). The success of Amazon in becoming a global online retailer has been attributed to a series of acquisitions, partnerships, and alliances.

Shaughnessy (2012) explains that 43 percent of Amazon’s net sales in 2010 were obtained from the media market, including but not limited to music, magazine subscriptions, video/DVD products, video games, and digital downloads.

Currently, more than 50 percent of company sales come from industrial supplies, mobile devices, general merchandise, and outdoor equipment. Amazon has developed significantly from its original beginnings as a bookstore to a superior online retailer dominating the global market.

Amazon’s core competencies have been recognized as accessibility and consumer convenience, customized services, unlimited selection options, and the high-quality and efficient search tool to locate products and services via the internet (Shaughnessy, 2012).

The company has three primary strategies that result in a competitive advantage: customer differentiation, focus, and cost-leader strategy. It offers different products and service selection options to customers, including beauty products, electronics, health, home appliances, and others. Amazon’s financial goal was to realize long-term profitability and sustainable growth.

To achieve this goal, the online retailer upheld a thin culture concentrated on enhancing the operating income via efficiently managing capital expenditure and working capital and constantly increasing revenue while tightly regulating operating costs (Forbes. 2013).

By 2009, the company had already developed into an international brand with websites in Germany, Japan, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and China. Besides, it fulfilled orders from more than 200 nations. According to Shaughnessy (2012),

By 2013, Amazon.com, Inc. had hired over 56,200 employees worldwide working in customer services, software development, and order fulfillment centers in Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America.

The Amazon name was evocative of Jeff Bezos, the founder who visualized the company as a massive natural phenomenon. After its expansion to different locations, Amazon organized its operations into principal segments of international operations and North America.

Amazon.com, Inc. has over 306,800 part-time and full-time workers (Forbes. 2013). In 2017, the company acquired a high-end supermarket chain for Whole Foods. Since 1998, it has acquired many companies, including (Amazon.com. 2010):

• 1998-Telebook, Intenet Movie Database, Junglee and PlanetAll
• 1999- HomeGrocer.com, Gear.com, Ashford.com, Leep Technology, Drugstore.com
• 2002- online music ( CDNow.com)
• 2004- Joyo.com
• Smallparts.com
• Createspace.com
• 2010- BuyPIV, Amie Street, Touchco, Woot, and Quidsi.
• 2015- Elemental Technologies, Annapurna Labs, and 2lemetry.
• 2017- Harvest.ai, Do.com, GameSparks, Wing.Ae, Body Labs, and Thinkbox Software.

Corporate governance

Jeff Bezos owns a 19.4 percent share of the company, and he is the Chief Executive Officer and the Board Chairman (Amazon.com, 2017). Amazon.com, Inc. has eleven boards of directors. The company has three board committees. The governance and audit committee are standard.

The Compensation and Leadership Development Committee is the third category. The stability of proficient management, such as executive officers’ succession plans, is periodically monitored and assessed by the third committee.

According to Amazon.com (2017), CEOs do not populate the corporation’s board, but they comprise several senior-level executives from different industries, venture capitalists, non-profit sector representatives, and eminent scientists.

This board has served together for an extended period, implying Amazon.com, Inc. has excellent corporate governance.  Amazon’s organizational structure is identified as hierarchical. The figure below shows the governance structure of the company (source: Amazon.com, 2017).

The Corporate Governance Committee oversees board membership candidates’ selection. The committee reviews the contribution, performance, and tenure of the present members to determine whether they qualify for re-election.

Among the skills and qualifications considered of a candidate considered crucial include long-term commitment to represent the shareholders’ interests, internet savvy, customer experience skills, leadership ability, value, and integrity (Amazon.com, 2017).

External environment

Several factors influence Amazon’s operations. The economic climate is continually changing, which demands the company to be more innovative. The e-retailer sector is developing at a rate of 10%, but the company’s growth rate is higher (Jobber, 2007).  Social aspects play a significant role in the success of…

Unlock Case Solution Now!

Get instant access to this case solution with a simple, one-time payment ($24.90).

After purchase:

• You'll be redirected to the full case solution.
• You will receive an access link to the solution via email.

Best decision to get my homework done faster! Michael MBA student, Boston

How do I get access?

Upon purchase, you are forwarded to the full solution and also receive access via email.

Is it safe to pay?

Yes! We use Paypal and Stripe as our secure payment providers of choice.

What is Casehero?

We are the marketplace for case solutions - created by students, for students.

Hacking the Case Interview

If you’re interviewing for a business role at Amazon, there is a good chance that you’ll receive at least one case study interview, also known as an Amazon case interview. Amazon roles that include case study interviews as part of the interview process include:

• Business Analyst
• Business Development
• Corporate Strategy
• Product Manager
• Product Marketing

To land an Amazon job offer, you’ll need to crush every single one of your case interviews. While Amazon case study interviews may seem ambiguous and challenging, know that they can be mastered with proper preparation.

If you are preparing for an upcoming Amazon case interview, we have you covered. In this comprehensive Amazon case interview guide, we’ll cover:

• What is an Amazon case study interview
• Why Amazon uses case study interviews
• The 6 steps to ace any Amazon case interview
• Amazon case interview tips
• Recommended Amazon case study interview resources

If you’re looking for a step-by-step shortcut to learn case interviews quickly, enroll in our case interview course . These insider strategies from a former Bain interviewer helped 30,000+ land tech and consulting offers while saving hundreds of hours of prep time.

What is an Amazon Case Study Interview?

Amazon case study interviews, also known as Amazon case interviews, are 20- to 30-minute exercises in which you are placed in a hypothetical business situation and are asked to find a solution or make a recommendation.

First, you’ll create a framework that shows the approach you would take to solve the case. Then, you’ll collaborate with the interviewer, answering a mix of quantitative and qualitative questions that will give you the information and data needed to develop an answer. Finally, you’ll deliver your recommendation at the end of the case.

Case interviews have traditionally been used by consulting firms to assess a candidate’s potential to become a successful consultant. However, now a days, many companies with ex-consultants use case studies to assess a candidate’s capabilities. Since Amazon has so many former consultants in its business roles, you’ll likely encounter at least one case study interview.

The business problems that you’ll be given in an Amazon case study interview will likely be real challenges that Amazon faces today:

• How can Amazon improve customer retention for their Amazon Prime subscription service?
• How can Amazon improve its digital streaming service?
• How can Amazon increase ad revenues from merchant sellers?
• How should Amazon deal with fake products among its product listings?
• How can Amazon Web Services outcompete Microsoft Azure?

Depending on what team at Amazon you are interviewing for, you may be given a business problem that is relevant to that specific team.

Although there is a wide range of business problems you could possibly be given in your Amazon case interview, the fundamental case interview strategies to solve each problem is the same. If you learn the right strategies and get enough practice, you’ll be able to solve any Amazon case study interview.

Why does Amazon Use Case Study Interviews?

Amazon uses case study interviews because your performance in a case study interview is a measure of how well you would do on the job. Amazon case interviews assess a variety of different capabilities and qualities needed to successfully complete job duties and responsibilities.

Amazon’s case study interviews primarily assess five things:

• Logical, structured thinking : Can you structure complex problems in a clear, simple way?
• Analytical problem solving : Can you read, interpret, and analyze data well?
• Business acumen : Do you have sound business judgment and intuition?
• Communication skills : Can you communicate clearly, concisely, and articulately?
• Personality and cultural fit : Are you coachable and easy to work with?

Since all of these qualities can be assessed in just a 20- to 30-minute case, Amazon case study interviews are an effective way to assess a candidate’s capabilities.

In order to do well on the personality and cultural fit portion, you should familiarize yourself with  Amazon’s Leadership Principles before your interview. At a high level, these principles include:

• Customer obsession : Leaders start with the customer and work backwards
• Ownership : Leaders are owners and act on behalf of the entire company
• Invent and simplify : Leaders expect and require innovation and invention from their teams and always find ways to simplify
• Learn and be curious : Leaders are never done learning and always seek to improve themselves
• Insist on the highest standards : Leaders have relentlessly high standards
• Think big : Leaders create and communicate a bold direction that inspires results
• Frugality : Accomplish more with less
• Earn trust : Leaders listen attentively, speak candidly, and treat others respectfully
• Dive deep : Leaders operate at all levels and stay connected to the details
• Deliver results : Leaders focus on key inputs for their business and deliver them with the right quality and in a timely fashion

The 6 Steps to Solve Any Amazon Case Interview

In general, there are six steps to solve any Amazon case study interview.

1. Understand the case

Your Amazon case interview will begin with the interviewer giving you the case background information. While the interviewer is speaking, make sure that you are taking meticulous notes on the most important pieces of information. Focus on understanding the context of the situation and the objective of the case.

Don’t be afraid to ask clarifying questions if you do not understand something. You may want to summarize the case background information back to the interviewer to confirm your understanding of the case.

The most important part of this step is to verify the objective of the case. Not answering the right business question is the quickest way to fail a case interview.

2. Structure the problem

The next step is to develop a framework to help you solve the case. A framework is a tool that helps you structure and break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable components. Another way to think about frameworks is brainstorming different ideas and organizing them into different categories.

For a complete guide on how to create tailored and unique frameworks for each case, check out our article on case interview frameworks .

Before you start developing your framework, it is completely acceptable to ask the interviewer for a few minutes so that you can collect your thoughts and think about the problem.

Once you have identified the major issues or areas that you need to explore, walk the interviewer through your framework. They may ask a few questions or provide some feedback.

3. Kick off the case

Once you have finished presenting your framework, you’ll start diving into different areas of your framework to begin solving the case. How this process will start depends on whether the case interview is candidate-led or interviewer-led.

If the case interview is a candidate-led case, you’ll be expected to propose what area of your framework to start investigating. So, propose an area and provide a reason for why you want to start with that area. There is generally no right or wrong area of your framework to pick first.

If the case interview is interviewer-led, the interviewer will tell you what area of the framework to start in or directly give you a question to answer.

4. Solve quantitative problems

Amazon case study interviews may have some quantitative aspect to them. For example, you may be asked to calculate a certain profitability or financial metric. You could also be asked to estimate the size of a particular market or to estimate a particular figure.

The key to solving quantitative problems is to lay out a structure or approach upfront with the interviewer before doing any math calculations. If you lay out and present your structure to solve the quantitative problem and the interviewer approves of it, the rest of the problem is just simple execution of math.

5. Answer qualitative questions

Amazon case study interviews may also have qualitative aspects to them. You may be asked to brainstorm a list of potential ideas. You could also be asked to provide your opinion on a business issue or situation.

The key to answering qualitative questions is to structure your answer. When brainstorming a list of ideas, develop a structure to help you neatly categorize all of your ideas. When giving your opinion on a business issue or situation, provide a summary of your stance or position and then enumerate the reasons that support it.

6. Deliver a recommendation

In the last step of the Amazon case interview, you’ll present your recommendation and provide the major reasons that support it. You do not need to recap everything that you have done in the case, so focus on only summarizing the facts that are most important.

It is also good practice to include potential next steps that you would take if you had more time or data. These can be areas of your framework that you did not have time to explore or lingering questions that you do not have great answers for.

Amazon Case Interview Tips

Below are eight of our best tips to help you perform your best during your Amazon case study interview.

1. Familiarize yourself with Amazon’s business model

If you don’t understand Amazon’s business model, it will be challenging for you to do well in their case interviews. If you are interviewing for the Amazon Web Services team, you should know how Amazon makes money as a cloud service provider. If you are interviewing for the Amazon Prime team, you should be familiar with how their subscription service works.

2. Read recent news articles on Amazon

A lot of the times, the cases you’ll see in an Amazon case study interview are real business issues that the company faces. Reading up on the latest Amazon news will give you a sense of what Amazon’s biggest challenges are and what major business decisions they face today. There is a good chance that your case study interview will be similar to something that you have read in the news.

3. Verify the objective of the case 

Answering the wrong business problem will waste a lot of time during your Amazon case study interview. Therefore, the most critical step of the case interview is to verify the objective of the case with the interviewer. Make sure that you understand what the primary business issue is and what overall question you are expected to answer at the end of the case.

4. Ask clarifying questions

Do not be afraid to ask questions. You will not be penalized for asking questions that are important and relevant to the case. 

Great questions to ask include asking for the definition of an unfamiliar term, asking questions that clarify the objective of the case, and asking questions to strengthen your understanding of the business situation.

5. Do not use memorized frameworks

Interviewers can tell when you are using memorized frameworks from popular case interview prep books. Amazon values creativity and intellect. Therefore, make every effort to create a custom, tailored framework for each case that you get.

6. Always connect your answers to the case objective

Throughout the case, make sure you are connecting each of your answers back to the overall business problem or question. What implications does your answer have on the overall business problem?

Many candidates make the mistake of answering case questions correctly, but they don’t take the initiative to tie their answer back to the case objective.

7. Communicate clearly and concisely

In an Amazon case study interview, it can be tempting to answer the interviewer’s question and then continue talking about related topics or ideas. However, you have a limited amount of time to solve an Amazon case, so it is best to keep your answers concise and to the point.

Answer the interviewer’s question, summarize how it impacts the case objective, and then move onto the next important issue or question.

8. Be enthusiastic

Amazon wants to hire candidates that love their job and will work hard. Displaying enthusiasm shows that you are passionate about working at Amazon. Having a high level of enthusiasm and energy also makes the interview more enjoyable for the interviewer. They will be more likely to have a positive impression of you.

Recommended Amazon Case Study Interview Resources

Here are the resources we recommend to learn the most robust, effective case interview strategies in the least time-consuming way:

• Comprehensive Case Interview Course (our #1 recommendation): The only resource you need. Whether you have no business background, rusty math skills, or are short on time, this step-by-step course will transform you into a top 1% caser that lands multiple consulting offers.
• Hacking the Case Interview Book   (available on Amazon): Perfect for beginners that are short on time. Transform yourself from a stressed-out case interview newbie to a confident intermediate in under a week. Some readers finish this book in a day and can already tackle tough cases.
• The Ultimate Case Interview Workbook (available on Amazon): Perfect for intermediates struggling with frameworks, case math, or generating business insights. No need to find a case partner – these drills, practice problems, and full-length cases can all be done by yourself.
• Case Interview Coaching : Personalized, one-on-one coaching with former consulting interviewers
• Behavioral & Fit Interview Course : Be prepared for 98% of behavioral and fit questions in just a few hours. We'll teach you exactly how to draft answers that will impress your interviewer
• Resume Review & Editing : Transform your resume into one that will get you multiple interviews

Land Multiple Tech and Consulting Offers

Complete, step-by-step case interview course. 30,000+ happy customers.

• Order Status
• Testimonials
• What Makes Us Different

Amazon Harvard Case Solution & Analysis

Home >> Harvard Case Study Analysis Solutions >> Amazon

Amazon Case Study Solution 

Amazon first launched its website in 1995. The website was mainly launched to sell books. After few years,Amazon expanded its operations and started to sell different products through the internet.The business structure and strategy of the company is an appealing one because in a very short period,Amazon captured huge market shares.For further growth, the company intends to enter into grocery market by acquiring Whole Foods Company. Our team has tried to help the company in evaluating the decision.

In this report, we analyzed the internal environment of the company by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of the company. In this analysis, we concluded that the general management, operations, marketing and innovative capability of the company is a strong one while the company is weak in customer experience. After that, we analyzed the opportunities and relative market threats which should be considered by the company for its success.

Amazon Harvard Case Solution & Analysis

We analyzed the market environment of the industry in which Amazon operates using Porter 5 forces,we concluded that the threat of substitutes has the highest power while the overall risk of the market is a moderate one. Along with this, we also analyzed the general environment of Amazon using PESTLE model.By using this analysis, we concluded that the general environment has also a moderate level of risk however,political factor has the highest level of risk in this environment.

After analyzing the resources and capabilities of the company we have provided recommendations relating to the opportunities which should be grasped by the company.Furthermore, we also conducted financial and risk analyses relating to the grocery market which gives positive results and enables us to provide recommendations.

Strength and Weaknesses

General Management

Strength: In 2002, company launched Amazon Web Services (AWS), a cloud computing service to companies conducting research.This indicates that this is a growing market.Along with this, company also makes acquisitions and mergers with other companies to grasp the emerging opportunities. This indicates that the management of the company is an efficient one and takes prudent steps for the growth of the company.

Strength: Amazon increases the price of its product ‘Prime’.Despite increasing the price the demand for the product which was increased by 53% in 2014 and 35% in 2015 indicates that the management of the company is up to date with the market trends and hence takes effective steps to grasp the opportunities.

Weaknesses: In taking aggressive steps for the growth of the company the management does not critically analyze the opportunity hence this causes severe losses.This can be identified by the decision of Fire Phone which caused a loss of 170 million.

Strength: Amazon conducts its operations through websites.This allows the company to maintain a huge amount of inventory at its virtual stores at low fixed cost. Hence due to are duction in expenses, the overall profit of the company will be improved.

Strength: Amazon sets its own packing and distribution systems which allows the company to market its products without any resistance hence improving the effectiveness of company operations.

  Marketing

Strength: Amazon uses its own advertising networks.These networks generated approximately $1.26 million in 2015. This indicates that the company has effective marketing policies.

Customer Experience

Weaknesses: Amazon does not conduct any feedback program like how customer feel after buying or using the services of the company. If a company starts to take feed backs,then it will enhance the confidence of the customers and in result it scans retain them for longer period.

Intellectual Property management

Strength: Amazon provides branded products to the customers.This will enhance the goodwill of the company and improvement in goodwill will ultimately improve the profit of the company.

Weaknesses: Company does not have physical source to maintain its records, data or inventory as it uses technology (internet) for this purpose therefore, at the time of any hazard company may lose its data along with this, anyone can perform technological crimes (like hacking) to misuse company data and in this case company has to suffer a lot,it may need to pay potential penalties due to breaching of data protection act and etc.

Innovative Capability

Strength: Company takes aggressive steps to fulfill the demands of the customers like the launch of ‘Unbox’ in 2006 which streams video on laptops and tablets.The company did not rely on it and innovated this technology in 2013 and offered videos on large scale on TV which is in accordance with the consumers.This indicates that Amazon is a highly innovative company.

Strength: Furthermore, the company also introduced some tablets which can be used by the customers to download digital books and videos from the company’s website. Along with this, company also introduced some good services like Dash Replenishment Service and Dash Button to motivate the customers to purchase from the company hence this will increase the market share of the company.

This is just a sample partial work. Please place the order on the website to get your own originally done case solution.

Related Case Solutions & Analyses:

Hire us for Originally Written Case Solution/ Analysis

Like us and get updates:.

Harvard Case Solutions

Search Case Solutions

• Accounting Case Solutions
• Auditing Case Studies
• Business Case Studies
• Economics Case Solutions
• Finance Case Studies Analysis
• Harvard Case Study Analysis Solutions
• Human Resource Cases
• Ivey Case Solutions
• Management Case Studies
• Marketing HBS Case Solutions
• Operations Management Case Studies
• Supply Chain Management Cases
• Taxation Case Studies

More From Harvard Case Study Analysis Solutions

• Chinas Financial Markets: 2006
• PGL: The Entrepreneur in Chinas Logistics Industry
• The Broadband and Telecom Bubble
• The Shaw Group Inc.: Entrepreneurial Innovation
• Modeling Power Transmission Line
• Clean Edge Razor: Splitting Hairs in Product Positioning

Contact us:

Check Order Status

How Does it Work?

Why TheCaseSolutions.com?