Case #1: Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google

1. Define the contested boundaries among Amazon, Apple, Facebook and

Google.

2. For each contested boundary that you have identified, how is the contest

likely to play out? How many contests give rise to winner-take-all markets?

How many to always-a-share markets? How will the complex ecosystems, in

which online businesses are built on top of other online businesses and thirdparty

sellers that rely on platforms, evolve?

3. Identify a firm that you know something about, for example a media

company, a retailer, or manufacturing firm, with some involvement in the

online economy. Which, if any, of the big four firm does it currently rely on?

Might that reliance change? How might that firm hedge the risks it will face

if there is a transition to one of the others?

4. What skills will be under-supplied in the future of the digital economy that

you envisage?

case 2:Wal-Mart Lobbying in India? 1. How well did Wal-Marts leaders do in handling the situation described in the case? 2. Which, if any, of the objections to Wal-Mart raised by the companys opponents are well-founded? Are the critics demands legitimate? 3. What would you do if you were the senior executive representing Wal-Mart in India in this situation? 4. How does lobbying in India compare to attitudes towards lobbying in other countries with which you are well familiar (here, you may choose one developed country and one developing country to do the comparison with India)? What approach do you think is best?