Assignment 1: Yahoo and Amazon: Building a Competitive Advantage

Review Case 21

 “How Amazon.com
became the leading online retailer by 2011”, and Case 23 “Is Yahoo!’s business
model working in 2011?” located in the textbook to complete this assignment.

Write a six to eight (6-8) page
paper in which you:

1. Describe, in brief, the histories of both of
Amazon.com and Yahoo.com, and determine the core business of each.

2. Determine the key strategic differences that
have impacted the relative success of both Amazon.com and Yahoo.com. Provide
two (2) specific examples of such strategic differences to support the
response.

3. Compare and contrast the approach to strategic
planning that each company has pursued in order to achieve a competitive
advantage. Focus specifically on both intended and emergent strategies.

4. Analyze the manner in which each company’s
distinctive competencies help to shape the strategies that each company
pursues. Provide a rationale to support the response.

5. Recommend one (1) functional level strategy
for each company which prescribes the essential ways in which each may achieve
superior efficiency, quality, innovation, and customer responsiveness. Provide
a rationale to support the response.

6. Use at least three (3) quality
references. Note: Wikipedia and other Websites do not qualify
as academic resources.

Your assignment must follow
these formatting requirements:

·
Be typed, double spaced, using
Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations
and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your
professor for any additional instructions.

·

·
Include a cover page containing
the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the
course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not
included in the required assignment page length.

·

The specific course learning
outcomes associated with this assignment are:

·
Analyze the role of a company
mission, vision, and objectives and the impact to business strategy.

 

·
Describe strategic planning
techniques used to formulate alternative strategies designed to achieve stated
business goals.

·
Analyze the external and
internal environment for opportunities, threats, strengths, and weaknesses that
impact the firm’s competitiveness.

·

·
Use technology and information
resources to research issues in strategic management.

·

·
Write clearly and concisely
about strategic management using proper writing mechanics

. Describe, in brief,
the histories of both of Amazon.com and Yahoo.com, and determine the core
business of each.