Operations Management and Decision-Making Models

Assessment 1 - Short Answer Questions

Assessment Description

Using the two quotations presented on the next page as an initial focus point, comprehensively answer each of these questions:

1. Amazon began as an on-line book retailer. How has it grown to be known as the "everything store"?

2. What aspects of Amazon's operations management are based on the increased globalisation of world trade?

3. Amazon’s marketplace focuses on smaller sellers and manufacturers by linking them with a huge customer base and fulfillment program. Can e-commerce ever truly replace the in-person shopping experience?

4. What are (or could be) the real long-term implications of the increased presence of Amazon to the Australian Retail Industry?

You are expected to conduct sufficient research into the topics that will help you construct your answers, and the research is to be used to support your statements and assertions. As a guide, you are expected to use a minimum of 5 references per question. The use of contemporary (recent) publications will be valued in assessing the quality of research. The references must be authoritative and not sourced from Wikipedia, Slideshare, Businessballs or other non-academic sources.

The Harvard Referencing System must be used for the references and citations. The document must be submitted through Turnitin. Any evidence of academic misconduct (plagiarism) will attract the appropriate penalty as published in Kaplan’s policies and guidelines. These penalties include the possibility of being given a mark of zero for the assessment.

Any student who is not sure of how to meet the requirements of this assessment is encouraged to discuss the issue with their facilitator at the earliest opportunity.

How Amazon Is Changing Supply Chain Management

“The rate of Amazon’s innovations in supply chain management has been mesmerizing. The rate of change has been incredible, making it difficult for lower volume competitors to keep up. Amazon is forcing its major competitors to invest more in supply chain automation, lessen the overall product delivery time, increase the number of warehouses, and even engage in product manufacturing. Amazon is already out of reach for most online e-commerce competitors. At the same time, its acquisition of Whole Foods is another bold declaration of its move into bricks and mortar, further emphasizing the convergence of traditional retail and e-commerce strategies.

Most importantly, Amazon’s unique supply chain strategies and continuous technological innovations have already changed the way supply chain management works. With impending advances in robotics, drones and other autonomous vehicles, one can only guess what the future holds for Amazon.”

(https://www.thebalancesmb.com/how-amazon-is-changing-supply-chainmanagement-4155324)

The secrets behind Amazon's success

"Patience, relentless investment and serial innovation have helped Jeff Bezos’s company 'shred the competition'.

At some point in the near future, 85% of the world’s products will be available on Amazon. That was the startling view, privately expressed, by the head of consumer markets at a big global management consultancy to me two years ago. This was the goal, he said, towards which chief executive officer Jeff Bezos was marching Amazon. Once reached, this would be a strategic, operational and financial game changer for the business."

(https://www.cips.org/supply-management/analysis/2016/february/the-secretsbehind-amazons-success/)