General Issues in Strategic Management
I N D U S T R Y O N E : INTERNET COMPANIES
CASE 11 Pandora Internet Radio (2014): Just Press Play 11-1 (Contributors: Gary Stenftennagel and Joyce Vincelette) Pandora Media was built around the idea of providing listeners with only the music that they love. To do so, Pandora fundamentally changed how people listened to music by allowing station customization and the ability to listen to music over the Internet. As technology changed, Pandora evolved from a Web site based radio provider and developed a mobile application where the company could offer its services to customers whenever and wherever they wanted to listen to music. Monetizing the mobile product proved to be difficult and Pandora had not yet attained profitability.
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CASE 1 2 Amazon.com, Inc.: Retailing Giant to High-Tech Player? 12-1 (Contributor: Alan N. Hoffman) In 2012, more than half of all Amazon sales came from computers, mobile devices including the Kindle, Kindle Fire, and Kindle Touch, and other electronics, as well as general merchandise from home and garden supplies to groceries, apparel, jewelry, health and beauty products, sports and outdoor equipment, tools, and auto and industrial supplies. Amazon was at a crossroads with regard to its push into technology versus its general merchandise. Amazon also faced other challenges, including those from state governments that wanted it to collect sales taxes so it would not adversely compete against local businesses.
CASE 1 3 Blue Nile, Inc.: “Stuck in the Middle” of the Diamond Engagement Ring Market 13-1 (Contributor: Alan N. Hoffman) Blue Nile Inc. has developed into the largest online retailer of diamond engagement rings. Unlike traditional jewelry retailers, Blue Nile operates completely store-front-free, without in-person consultation services. The business conducts all sales online or by phone, and sales include both engagement (70%) and non-engagement (30%) categories. Blue Nile’s vision is to educate its customer base so customers can make an informed, confident decision no matter what event they are celebrating. It wants to make the entire diamond-buying process easy and hassle-free.