Need help completing the below project using the attachements and prior SWOT Analysis submitted.
The Class Project is the most significant assignment in this course, Concepts and Applications of Information Technology. You have completed the first deliverable of this assignment with the SWOT Analysis in Week 4 (worth 330 points).
The second deliverable is the Project Presentation due in Week 8 (worth 250 points). The “Complete Your SWOT Analysis” resource included in the assignment instructions is a PowerPoint file that can be used as you complete the Course Project. This PowerPoint file is available below. Remember this is NOT a simple “cut & paste” assignment from your SWOT Analysis. Use the note section below each slide to address the details of your findings.
SWOT Analysis
Antonio R. Hanson
University of Maryland Global Campus
IFSM 201 6374 Concepts and Applications of Information Technology (2252)
Professor Avery Stemmons
February 4, 2025
Introduction
Organizations use different tools to analyze markets and use the findings to make some of the important decisions that can help them to grow and achieve their objectives. One of the tools is the SWOT analysis which is used for evaluating the organization’s internal strengths and weaknesses, along with external opportunities and threats (Benzaghta, el., 2021). With information an organization is in a position to make informed decisions that align with business objectives. This paper will focus on Amazon to evaluate how information technology enhances its operations in e-commerce, cloud computing, and logistics.
Helpful
To achieving the objective
Harmful
To achieving the objective
Internal origin
(attributes of you)
Strengths
· Leading the cloud services in the industry (AWS)
· Strong Brand reputation & global reach
· Advance logistics & AI-driven recommendations
· Diverse product offerings
· Well-established distribution network
· Strong financial performance
· Large customer base
Weaknesses
· High cost of operation
· Worker treatment concerns
· Dependence on third-party sellers
· Data security concerns
· Easy to copy business model
· Regulatory issues
· Dependence on third-party sellers
External Origin (attributes of your environment)
Opportunities
· Opportunities for expansion into emerging markets
· Opportunities in AI and automation
· Enhancements in drone delivery & supply chain
· Planned entry into crypto
Threats
· Increasing regulatory scrutiny
· Rising competition from other firms in the industry such as Walmart and Alibaba
· Increased risk from cyber-attacks
· Natural disasters
· Regulatory issues
Strengths
Amazon has several strengths compared to other organizations in different industries offering services. First it leads in the cloud service industry through its Amazon Web Services (AWS); the service is currently the leading revenue stream. Secondly, Amazon enjoys a strong brand reputation and global reach, which makes it the most recognized and trusted brand worldwide. Thirdly, Amazon has an advanced logistics network and AI-driven product recommendations significantly enhance the customer experience, ensuring timely delivery and personalized shopping. Fourthly, Amazon has diverse product offerings, providing a broad range of goods catering to various customer needs. Fifthly, the company also has a well-distributed network that ensures efficient global operations, further strengthening its market position. Lastly, Amazon has strong financial performance and a large, loyal customer base, which has continued to drive growth, solidifying its place as a leader in multiple industries.
Weaknesses
Like any other organization, Amazon has several weaknesses that threaten its operations and market positions. The first significant weakness that Amazon faces is the high cost of operation, which stems from its vast global network of warehouses, delivery services, and cloud infrastructure. These services require substantial financial investment, which puts significant pressure on its services. The second critical threat is worker treatment, which has received a lot of criticism. This issue is common in fulfillment centers, leading to reputational risk and potential regulatory challenges. The third weakness is the issue with third-party sellers, which threaten the supply chain as the external partners are usually unreliable. The fourth weakness is its business model, which competitors can easily replicate, leading to increased competition and market fragmentation. Lastly, Amazon also faces regulatory issues in numerous markets, which has the potential to impose additional compliance costs and operational constraints.
Opportunities
Amazon also has numerous opportunities to capitalize to continue its growth and innovation. First, it has the opportunity to expand into emerging markets, which increases internet penetration and allows the company to reach new customer bases and tap into developing economies. Second, the company can benefit from AI and automation advancement through investments in AI-driven customer service, robotics, and machine learning to enhance its operational efficiency and reduce costs (Amiri, & Vida, 2023). The third opportunity is its potential to revolutionize logistics with enhancements in drone delivery and supply chain technology, including smart warehouse, which could drastically improve delivery and supply chain including smart warehouse, which it then can improve its delivery speed and accuracy. Lastly, Amazon’s planned entry into the cryptocurrency market offers another avenue for growth, potentially diversifying its financial offerings and positioning the company at the forefront of digital finance.
Threats
There are several threats that Amazon faces and which have the potential to challenge its business operation and long-term success. The first significant threat is high regulatory scrutiny since the company is subjected to antitrust investigation and government regulations. This threat significantly affects its ability to operate freely. The second threat is the increasing competition from other firms in the industry, such as Walmart and Alibaba (Yang, 2022). The intensity intensifies the competition landscape, potentially eroding Amazon’s market share as these rivals strengthen their online and retail presence. The increasing risk of cyber-attacks, the third threat, poses a substantial threat as Amazon handles a large volume of customer data. This large volume of data makes Amazon a prime target of cybercriminals. The fourth threat is natural disasters, which pose unpredictable risks to Amazon’s vast network of warehouses, delivery infrastructure, and data centers. Lastly, ongoing regulatory issues in various regions could introduce new challenges, imposing further compliance requirements and operational constraints that could impact Amazon’s growth and profitability.
Conclusion
Amazon’s SWOT analysis underscores its strengths, particularly in cloud computing and logistics, which have positioned it as a market leader. However, challenges such as regulatory risks and high operational costs must be addressed. To sustain its competitive advantage, Amazon should leverage AI, expand into emerging markets, and enhance its IT infrastructure to secure customer data. By addressing weaknesses like labor concerns and mitigating threats from rising competition and cybersecurity risks, Amazon can continue to innovate and dominate both the e-commerce and cloud computing sectors (Yang, 2022). Strategic focus on these areas will enable Amazon to maintain its leadership and long-term growth.
References
Amiri, S., & Vida, V. (2023). Analysis of marketing strategic issues at Amazon. SEA: Practical Application of Science, 11(31).
Yang, Z. (2022). Amazon vs. Alibaba: Comparisons of Two E-commerce Giants based on SWOT Analysis. Highlights in Business, Economics and Management, 2, 497-503.
Benzaghta, M. A., Elwalda, A., Mousa, M. M., Erkan, I., & Rahman, M. (2021). SWOT analysis applications: An integrative literature review. Journal of Global Business Insights, 6(1), 54-72.
SWOT Analysis
Table Templates
CIRCULAR FORMAT
S
Strengths
W
Weaknesses
T
Threats
O
Opportunities
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3
1.
2.
3.
QUADRANT FORMAT
LINEAR FORMAT
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Concepts and Applications of Information Technology (IFSM201)
Class Project
Purpose of this Assignment
The Class Project is the most significant assignment in this course, Concepts and Applications of
Information Technology. As such, it accounts for 58% of the course points. This assignment is
comprised of two deliverables: a SWOT Analysis and a Presentation. The SWOT Analysis is due
in Week 4 (worth 33% of course grade), and the Presentation is due in Week 8 (worth 25% of
course grade).
This assignment gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your ability to research, evaluate,
and describe business strategy focused on information technology tools and services. This
assignment specifically addresses the following course outcomes:
• Identify the basic components of the information system: hardware, software, data,
processes, and people, and how these components are used to support strategic
decision making.
• Apply information technology tools for research, data gathering and information
analysis, problem-solving, decision-making, and communicating information that aligns
with business needs and objectives.
Start Here
The Class Project for this course focuses on the evaluation of a business or organization and
how they might strengthen their operations through technology, including their information
systems. There are two parts to the Class Project: the SWOT Analysis and the Presentation. You
will use the same business/organization for both parts; however, the grade received on the
SWOT Analysis will not affect the grade for the Presentation (they are separate assignments).
Step 1: Choose a Business or Organization
To begin, choose a business or organization that you would like to evaluate – it can be where
you work, a school (UMGC), a place of worship, government entity (e.g., DMV, Secretary of
State, courthouse, etc.), or any other type of organization. Since the focus of the analysis will
involve information technology, the best type of organization to choose is one where you can
envision technology playing a key role in improving products, processes, or services.
*From this point on, the instructions focus on the second deliverable, the Presentation*
Step 2: The Presentation (due week 8)
Now that you have chosen a business or organization for your Class Project and completed the SWOT
Analysis, it is time to complete the second deliverable – the Presentation. As you demonstrated, the
SWOT analysis is a framework for identifying and analyzing an organization’s strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats — SWOT stands for: Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threat. Commonly
used by businesses, this tool focuses on factors that are important to strategic decision making. These
factors include both internal and external influences on the viability of the organization.
The Presentation is a methodology for illustrating and explaining information to stakeholders in an
organization. You will use the Microsoft PowerPoint tool to create a presentation for the leadership of
the organization you chose for this Project. The SWOT Analysis you did provides the context for the
presentation, and you will use the attributes you identified in your SWOT Table to justify the
recommendations you will make for improvements to the organization.
The goal of the Presentation is to inform your audience, the senior leadership of the organization, of
the internal and external factors most critical to the health of the organization, and recommend
alternatives based on Information Technology that can help mitigate weaknesses and threats.
For more explanations on a PowerPoint Presentation, go to the following resources, available in the
week 8 Content:
• Getting Started with PowerPoint
• POWERPOINT FOR MAC
• PowerPoint: Managing Slides
Step 3: Create the PowerPoint Presentation
Now that you have completed a SWOT Analysis on the organization you chose, it is time to create a
PowerPoint presentation that will be submitted to your instructor/classroom.
The presentation should include the following and be a minimum of 10-12 slides in length (not including
Title or Reference slides):
1. Title slide – the title of presentation, company/organization name, your name, course,
and date of submission.
2. Purpose – briefly describe the purpose of the presentation and a summary of the
organization, including the business the organization is in (e.g., retail, production,
technology services, education, etc.)
3. SWOT Findings – 6-7 slides including a slide with the SWOT Table you created. Use
slides and notes to explain the business’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as the
opportunities and threats it faces in the marketplace. In addition to the SWOT Table,
each quadrant (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) should have its own slide
and in-depth Notes. Last, answer the question: how are the strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, and threats interconnected?
4. Focus on Information Systems – 2-3 slides describing recommendations based on the
SWOT analysis; how can the information system components (hardware, software, data,
people, processes) contribute to overcoming external barriers and bettering the health
of the organization?
PowerPoint:%20Managing%20Slides
5. Summary/Conclusion – synthesize the presentation – what were the most important
points?
6. References – cite at least two resources with APA formatted citation and reference. a.
Remember to correctly cite and reference all sources. Any direct quotes should be
indicated within the slide text with appropriate quotation marks and an in-text citation
(however, direct quotes should be short and used sparingly, if at all). Complete
references for sources should be included in the corresponding Notes section.
Paraphrased material can just be referenced within the Notes section of the slides
without an in-text citation on the slide. This deviates from APA style but keeps the slides
more readable.
*ALL Slides MUST Have Notes – provide a comprehensive explanation of what is on the slide.
Since there is no oral presentation, the Notes serve to explain what the audience sees on the
slide*
The bullet points in your presentation will be supported by relevant details in the Notes section of
the slides, which contain the actual words you would say to the stakeholders as you present each
slide. Since you cannot present the slides in person, the Notes will show what you would say. This is
an important part of your presentation. Presentations with limited or no “Notes” will receive much
lower grades because the bullets cannot tell the whole story.
Tips for a good PowerPoint Presentation:
• Include relevant graphics, including the SWOT Table.
• Each slide should have a title and a limited amount of text. The presentation should
capture key bullet points and not include complete paragraphs and detailed text. The Notes
feature will provide that explanations/narration for what the audience sees on the slide.
• There are options in PowerPoint to make a presentation stylish and unordinary, including
background colors, but keep it professional looking – remember your audience.
• Font size should be readable, as in at least 16 point and good contrast with background.
• Use animations sparingly to enhance your presentation.
• Keep Your Slides Simple.
• Proofread and Spellcheck (including what you write in the Notes section)!
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