Amazon Inc. Business Development Plan: Logistics Improvement

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Amazon Inc.'s business development plan, focusing on improving its logistics operations to maintain its leadership in the global online retail industry. The report identifies challenges such as late and incorrect deliveries and proposes a solution centered on implementing cloud computing technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, to optimize delivery processes. A collaborative change management approach is recommended, involving all stakeholders from top management to consumers, with clear roles and communication strategies. The report details the implementation process, including consultative processes, training, problem-solving, brainstorming, surveys, and monitoring methods. It highlights the importance of team meetings, stakeholder education, and resource allocation to ensure successful adoption. The report concludes by emphasizing the role of teamwork, data analytics, and management support in achieving the business development objectives. This report is a valuable resource for students studying business development and logistics management, offering insights into real-world challenges and solutions.

Running Head: AMAZON INC. BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PLAN 1
Amazon Inc. Business Development Plan
Name
Institution

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Amazon Inc. Business Development Plan
Over the years, Amazon Inc has grown to be a leading online retailer all across the globe.
The firm has experienced tremendous success over the years, which has given it a significant
competitive advantage over its competitors. Despite the firm’s success, its overall goal remains
the same, which is to be a dominant leader in the global online retail industry (Amazon Inc.,
2019). Thus, for Amazon to cement its status as the leading global online retailer, the firm needs
to improve continually. Therefore, this paper will analyse areas where Amazon can improve in
regards to the achievement of its business objectives.
Task One- Background
Company
As earlier stated, one of the key objectives for Amazon is to be a leader in the global
online retail industry. The blueprint as to how Amazon seeks to achieve this overall objective is
firmly stated in its mission. In its mission, Amazon states that it will provide consumers with the
lowest prices, best product selection, and most importantly, convenience during their shopping.
Consequently, the firm’s culture reflects these objectives and mission, whereby it is founded on
two core pillars (Amazon Inc., 2019). One component is innovation whereby the company
strives to improve its product offerings and services continuously. The second pillar is customer
centric-ness, whereby the main focus of Amazon’s all business activities is to meet the needs of
the consumers.
Problem and Proposed Solution
Even though Amazon has been significantly successful over the years, the company has
had to contend with some challenges. One such challenge has been on logistics whereby the

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company has had to deal with aspects such as late deliveries and in other cases wrong deliveries.
Consequently, this has led to more customer complaints and low customer satisfaction.
Therefore, a crucial objective for this problem will be to improve the efficiency of Amazon’s
logistics. This will ensure that deliveries are made on time and that customers receive their
rightful orders. The strategy to achieve this objective will centre on finding technological
solutions that will make Amazon’s logistics more efficient. As identified by Amazon Web
Services, Inc. (2019), cloud computing has emerged as a real solution for the optimization of
critical business operations. Thus this is helping businesses to run more efficiently. Therefore,
Amazon will transform its logistics by employing various cloud computing tools such as
Artificial intelligence and machine learning. These computer tools will enable the firm to ensure
just in time deliveries and also cut on incorrect deliveries.
Change Management
The primary technique to be utilised in change management will be a collaborative
approach. In this technique, all stakeholders of the firm ranging from the top management, team
leaders, employees, and the consumers will be involved in the implementation of the new system
(Binder, 2016). Additionally, each stakeholder level will have distinct and clear roles to play. For
example, the leaders will ensure that there are adequate resources for the change process, while
the consumers and employees will provide vital feedback regarding the system.
Also, as Binder (2016) points, effective communication is crucial during change
management. Therefore, Amazon will employ various communication techniques to
communicate with all stakeholders. For general communication, Amazon will utilise
synchronised tools such as bulk E-mails to communicate with the stakeholders. However, for
critical communication, particularly one pertaining to the making of critical decisions, face to

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face communication will be employed. Notably, because Amazon is a global company,
techniques such as videoconferencing and skype meetings will be used to bridge the distance
barrier. In this way, effective communication will be achieved. Stakeholder education will also
be vital. All stakeholders will be enlightened regarding the new project on aspects such as its
objectives, its importance to the firm, and most importantly, their role in its implementation. In
this way, unity of purpose can be achieved all across the firm.

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Task Two- Business Development Plan Implementation Report
Abstract
Amazon Inc is facing a significant logistics challenge. One of the identified solutions is
to implement a cloud computing system to enhance efficiency. First, Amazon will need to create
an innovative logistic program which will be facilitated by the cloud system. Therefore, this
report will concentrate on the implementation process of the development activities that pertain
to this program. Notably, a collaborative approach will be adopted. There are various activities
that Amazon will carry out during the implementation of this approach. These activities include
aspects such as consultations, training, team meetings, surveys, monitoring, and evaluation. This
report reviews how these activities will be implemented.

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................7
Consultative processes used.........................................................................................................7
Training and development...........................................................................................................7
Problem Solving and Conflict Management................................................................................8
Brainstorming sessions................................................................................................................8
Feedback survey...........................................................................................................................8
Structure and timing of team meetings........................................................................................8
Evaluation and monitoring methods used....................................................................................8
Role of Management....................................................................................................................9
Budget..........................................................................................................................................9
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
Amazon Web Services, Inc. (2019) points out that employees and team members are the
heart of solutions pertaining to cloud computing. The team members are the ones responsible for
developing innovative solutions. On the other hand, cloud computing technology plays a
facilitative role in these solutions through elements such as analytics databases and machine
learning. Therefore the business development activities will focus on the development of these
logistics solution
Consultative processes used
The implementing team will need to gather a wide range of views from all the
stakeholders, such as the employees and consumers. In this way, they will create a solution that
is comprehensive and one that adequately solves the problem. Consultations will also extend to
the top management whereby they will dictate the objectives of the change process and most
importantly, the available resources.
Training and development
It is worth noting that for a successful process, the project team will need to have the
necessary skills and competency to run the change process. One critical competency that they
will be trained will be on the aspect of collaboration. This will be key to ensure that the team
works together and also efficiently towards finding a solution (McEwan, Ruissen, Eys, Zumbo &
Beauchamp, 2017). Another area will be on cloud computing which is the change that is being
enacted. The team will be trained on various elements pertaining to the system such as its
capacities, underlying principles, and most importantly, its applicability to Amazon’s logistics.

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Problem Solving and Conflict Management
It is anticipated that challenges and conflicts will arise during the implementation
process. Amazon will solve this through the aspect of leadership. Team leaders will be handed
the responsibility of steering their teams through any challenges that arise and also take the
initiative in conflict resolution (Kerns, 2016). Most importantly, the leaders will be empowered
to perform these roles through capacity building and resource allocation.
Brainstorming sessions
As earlier pointed, solutions will be created primarily through teamwork. Therefore,
Amazon will utilise various teamwork techniques to generate and brainstorm through ideas.
These techniques will include elements such as face to face meetings and focus group
discussions (Bojeun, 2013).
Feedback survey
Additionally, various survey techniques will help the project team to collect vital
information and most importantly, feedback. Examples of survey techniques will be interviews,
questionnaires, and focus group discussions. Information and feedback gathered will be
incorporated into the development of the new logistics system.
Structure and timing of team meetings
The sessions will be semi-structured to allow a diversity of opinions. Also, the meetings
will be scheduled in a way that all team members can easily attend either physically or virtually.

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Evaluation and monitoring methods used
The input from the survey will be crucial for monitoring and evaluation (McEwan et al.,
2017). Data analytics techniques will be employed to acquire essential insights from the
information obtained from the surveys.
Role of Management
According to Binder (2016), a vital role of the top management is laying out the
objectives to the rest of the team. Other functions pertain motivating groups and most
importantly availing resources to them. These will be the key responsibilities of Amazon’s top
management.
Budget
Budgetary needs will be in two forms. First will be the resources needed for the business
development process. These will include costs involving trainings, employee remunerations, and
meetings facilitation. The second form of resources will pertain the purchase and implementation
of the cloud computing system. The firm will need to engage a third party company who will
provide the cloud computing services.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Amazon aims to be a global retail industry leader. However, it needs to
solve its logistics problem to achieve this aim. The firm will, therefore, utilise a collaborative
approach to implement a cloud computing system that will solve the issue.

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References
Amazon Inc. (2019). About Amazon. Retrieved 13 September 2019, from
https://www.aboutamazon.com/
Amazon Web Services, Inc. (2019). What is Cloud Computing. Retrieved 13 September 2019,
from https://aws.amazon.com/what-is-cloud-computing/?nc1=f_cc
Binder, J. (2016). Global project management: Communication, Collaboration, and
Management Across Borders.. London: Routledge.
Bojeun, M. (2013). Program management leadership: Creating Successful Team Dynamics.
CRC Press.
Kerns, C. (2016). Decisive Problem Solving: A Key Leadership Practice. Journal Of
Management Policy And Practice, 17(2), 62-77.
McEwan, D., Ruissen, G. R., Eys, M. A., Zumbo, B. D., & Beauchamp, M. R. (2017). The
effectiveness of teamwork training on teamwork behaviors and team performance: a
systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled interventions. PloS one, 12(1),
e0169604.