The Alibaba Group was established in 1999 by Jack Ma, who wanted to use the internet to connect Chinese suppliers with overseas buyers. Ma saw that small manufacturers and entrepreneurs in China had little access to overseas buyers at the time. In addition, only large companies had the capability of tapping into Chinese manufacturing because of the harsh regulations. Alibaba.com was created to solve this issue by acting as a fast, simple, and efficient intermediary between Chinese manufacturers and international buyers. Since its inception, Alibaba has grown into one of the world’s largest and most valuable companies, operating a diverse portfolio of businesses........

Questions

1. What are the key factors contributing to Alibaba’s market success?

2. How does Alibaba create value in business markets?

3. Which of the two core markets—business or consumer— should Alibaba prioritize in the future? Why?