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Part A: Short-Answer Questions (25 marks total) Answer each question in one to two paragraphs

Economics

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Part A: Short-Answer Questions (25 marks total)

Answer each question in one to two paragraphs. (5 marks each)

1. Explain why supply chain management should be aligned with corporate strategy. Justify your answer with an example.
2. Explain how the Internet and e-commerce have affected the strategic planning process. (Think about Porter’s 5 forces.)
3. Explain how e-commerce systems could be used to streamline the supply chain. Support your explanation with examples.
4. Explain the relationships among analysis, design, and implementation for creating an e-commerce site. Support your explanation with examples.
5. Explain how and why designing mobile web pages differs from designing traditional web pages. 

Part B: Case Analyses (75 marks total)

For each case, your analysis should be from two to three paragraphs in length and should not exceed two pages.

Case 1 (50 marks)

Spotify is a global, online music streaming, podcasting, and video service launched in 2008 in Stockholm, Sweden. The service allows users to browse music in a variety of genres and create shareable playlists. Spotify gained traction as one of the most popular streaming sites, building its song library to more than 30 million titles. It has amassed a following of over 75 million users and experienced healthy revenue growth. However, the company is experiencing fierce competition; it is struggling to perfect its business model and solidify its profitability in the global market. 

Visit Spotify.com and search the web using the following inquiries (Spotify revenue model, Spotify business model, Spotify strategy, SWOT analysis) to answer the following questions.

1. What is Spotify’s mission/vision statement? Does it support the company’s strategic priorities? Explain why or why not. (10 marks)
2. What is the firm’s main business model and revenue model? (5 marks)
3. Describe the major elements that are affecting the company’s external and internal environment. Which of these elements are the most critical?
   (To help you get started, review online results regarding SWOT analyses for Spotify.) (10 marks)
4. What digital strategic decisions would you recommend for the company to achieve profitability? (10 marks)
5. From a design perspective, how would you rate their customer interface? (Think about the three elements of site design: i) site design and structure, ii) page design, and iii) content design.) (15 marks)

Case 2 (25 marks)

In late 2015, Walmart, the worlds' largest retailer, announced that company profits were decreasing, despite increased total sales, as a result of the company facing shrinkage issues. Search the web for information on this story. Then answer the following questions. The following links will help you get started.

New York Post. (2015, August 18). Walmart Blames Theft for Slow Growth. 

Bloomberg. (2015, August 18). Wal-Mart is Getting Hit Hard by Thieves.

1. Explain the main issue of shrinkage that Walmart is facing. What are the root causes? (10 marks)
2. What technologies and solutions has Walmart put in place to control this issue? Do you think this is a successful strategy?  (10 marks)
3. What other technologies could be useful to control the supply chain and reduce the effects of this issue? (5 marks)