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External and Internal Factors

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External and Internal Factors
Abstract
The objective of this case study is to outline and provide a brief overview of Amazon.com's (Amazon) mission, strategic direction, core competencies, relied technologies and their future impact of new technologies, and how management and use of consumer data will impact future business. In addition, we have analyzed Amazon's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in a SWOT analysis. Based on this analysis, and research, we have recommend a course of action as to how Amazon should respond to their weaknesses and threats and how best to leverage strengths to take advantage of available opportunities.
Amazon's Mission and Strategic Direction
Amazon.com, Inc. is an internet retailer headquartered in Seattle, Washington founded by CEO Jeff Bezos. Their mission and strategy is quite simply "to offer Earth's Biggest Selection and to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they may want to buy online and [we] endeavor to offer our customers the lowest possible price."1 And, if they can't help they will point the customer to a site that can.
The company accomplishes this by operating six global internet sites: www.amazon.com, www.amazon.ca, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.jp, www.amazon.co.fr and www.amazon.co.uk. Through their zShops, auctions, affiliate program, Merchants@ and Amazon Marketplace programs, Amazon, and their sellers and partners, offer new and used collectibles and products in categories such as apparel and accessories, DVDs, electronics, computers, books, music, videos, cell phones, tools and hardware, the list is almost endless. In order to maintain quality, the company packages and ships all of its merchandise. They also continue to negotiate volume deals with suppliers to meet their goal of lowering prices.
Additionally, Amazon has formed partnerships and alliances with publishers, other on-line retailers, technology providers, either handling their web site operations or


References: Amazon.com, "Investor Relations," "About Amazon.com," "Annual Report," "Privacy Notice,", "Web Services," www.amazon.com, Online, May 2003, www.amazon.com> Kaplan, Simon, "The Right Fit," www.cio.com, Online, May 2003 www.cio.com/archive/120101/fit content.html Dignan, Larry, "The Day Ahead: Dot-coms grow up, chief execs step out," www.zdnet.co.uk, Online, May 2003, Fool.com, "Amazon 's CEO Letters," www.fool.com, Online, May 2003, www.fool.com/server/foolprint.asp?file==/news/foth/2002/foth021119.htm Bannan, Karen J., "Book Battle," Media Week," EBSCOhost, Online, May 2003, Vol. 10 Issue 9, P72, 2p, 5c Hoovers.com, "Profile," www.hovers.com, Online, May 2003, www.hoovers.com/premium/profile/3/0,2147, 51493,00.html Fortune.com, "Amazon: Can Amazon Be Saved?," www.fortune.com, Online, May 2003, www.fortune.com
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