For This Essay Use The Same Company You Previously Used And
For This Essay Use The Same Company Youpreviously Usedand Analy
For this essay, use the same company you previously used, and analyze how the company has implemented a corporate strategy or a future policy rollout. Consider strategy development, and the implementation phase. In your essay, address the following questions. What are the stages of a corporation's life cycle? How can a corporation's life cycle be extended?
What stage is your company in? What is strategy implementation? What questions must strategy makers consider to begin the implementation process? It is important to assess the strategy-culture compatibility when implementing a new strategy. Do you think that culture follows strategy, or does strategy follow culture?
In your response, use your company to illustrate your points. Justify your answer. What is Six Sigma? Why would a company want to implement it? Your essay should be two to three pages in length, double-spaced, and in 12 pt. Times New Roman font. The title and reference pages do not count towards the minimum page length. To complete this assignment, a minimum of two reputable sources must be used, cited, and referenced. At least one reference must come from the CSU Online Library. Use APA style guidelines.
Paper For Above instruction
In this essay, I will analyze how Amazon has implemented its corporate strategy and future policy initiatives, with particular focus on strategy development and implementation phases. The discussion will cover the stages of a corporation’s life cycle, how they can be extended, and where Amazon currently stands in this cycle. Additionally, I will explore the concept of strategy implementation, the considerations strategy makers face at the outset, and the relationship between corporate culture and strategy. Finally, I will discuss the significance of Six Sigma and its potential benefits for Amazon.
Stages of a Corporation’s Life Cycle and How to Extend It
The corporate life cycle generally passes through five stages: introduction, growth, maturity, decline, and renewal or decline reversal. During the introduction stage, companies focus on market development and brand recognition. Growth stage witnesses rapid sales increases and market expansion, whereas maturity is characterized by plateauing sales and a need to innovate to maintain competitiveness. Decline occurs when sales fall due to technological changes or shifting consumer preferences, but companies can attempt to extend their life cycle through strategic renewal—innovating product lines, entering new markets, or restructuring. Strategies such as diversification and innovation are essential to revitalizing mature companies and delaying decline (Ansoff, 1988).
Amazon’s Position in Its Life Cycle and Strategy Implementation
Amazon is currently in the maturity stage but demonstrates signs of strategic renewal aimed at entering new markets like healthcare and logistics, which could extend its life cycle further. Strategy implementation refers to the process of executing a strategic plan through resource allocation and organizational alignment (Hitt, Ireland, & Hoskisson, 2017). For Amazon, strategy implementation involved rolling out new subsidiaries like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and expanding into emerging markets. Effective implementation requires clarity in objectives, resource support, and alignment with organizational culture.
Strategic Questions and Strategy-Culture Alignment
Strategy makers must ask critical questions before implementation, such as: Does the organization have the resources and capabilities to support the strategy? Is there stakeholder buy-in? How will the strategy impact organizational culture? Culture and strategy are interdependent: some argue that culture follows strategy—a company’s strategic direction influences its culture—while others believe that organizational culture shapes strategic choices (Schein, 2010). In Amazon’s case, its customer-centric and innovative culture has historically driven its strategic initiatives, indicating that strategy has followed culture to a significant extent.
The Role and Significance of Six Sigma in Corporate Strategy
Six Sigma is a data-driven methodology aimed at process improvement and reducing defects to achieve near-perfect quality (Pande, Neuman, & Cavanagh, 2000). Companies implement Six Sigma to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction. For Amazon, adopting Six Sigma principles can streamline its logistics and fulfillment operations, leading to faster delivery times and increased customer loyalty. The implementation of Six Sigma aligns with Amazon’s focus on operational excellence and innovation driven by continuous improvement.
Conclusion
Amazon exemplifies a mature company actively extending its life cycle through strategic renewal and market diversification. The implementation of its strategies is informed by a strong organizational culture that emphasizes customer obsession and innovation. Understanding the stages of the corporate life cycle and the importance of aligning strategy and culture are crucial for long-term success. Additionally, methodologies like Six Sigma can significantly contribute to operational improvements, supporting Amazon’s strategic objectives. As companies evolve, continuous assessment and adaptation are vital for sustaining growth and competitiveness in a dynamic market environment.
References
- Ansoff, H. I. (1988). Corporate Strategy. McGraw-Hill.
- Hitt, M. A., Ireland, R. D., & Hoskisson, R. E. (2017). Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases: competitiveness and globalization. Cengage Learning.
- Pande, P. S., Neuman, R., & Cavanagh, R. R. (2000). The Six Sigma Way: How GE, Motorola, and Other Top Companies are Honing Their Performance. McGraw-Hill.
- Schein, E. H. (2010). Organizational Culture and Leadership (4th ed.). Jossey-Bass.