Read the case study "Analysis of the case study: Amazon.com, Inc.: Driving Disruptive Change in the U.S Grocery Market" and answer the following questions:

1- What is the chronology of the strategies that Amazon has followed from the point it sold books until it entered the grocery market through its acquisition of Whole Foods? What is the impact of this acquisition from the point of view of Amazon and competing companies in the same sector?

2- As a consultant to Amazon, explain how you can increase the competitiveness of the company after the acquisition of Whole Foods (which was described as high prices) and take into account the reactions of competitors based on the market structure in which the company operates without ignoring the rules of this market structure.

3- Rumors spread that Amazon is causing an increase in unemployment rates in the U.S. because it is converting traditional groceries into online groceries, thus eliminating traditional groceries and closing the door to 867,920 cashiers, shelf workers, and other employees working in this sector. The company is also accused of corrupting three markets: the traditional store market, the online sales market, and the delivery market. How would you respond to this rumor and accusations, given the current strategic direction Amazon is headed to, first in creating Amazon Go grocery and second in its acquisition of Whole Foods? (Knowing unemployment is a sensitive and important issue in the country).

4- Based on the following table, please answer a and b below:

a- Please explain why the share price of Whole Foods Inc. increased after its acquisition by Amazon in 2017.

b- If you want to invest in one of these companies, what would you invest in, and why?

c- There are many problems currently facing Amazon after it acquired Whole Foods stores. These problems include, among others, a lack of experience in managing traditional stores, perishable products, expensive supply chains, and the emergence of competitors (such as Aldi and Lidl, which threatens to reduce its prices, and Walmart, which threatens to publish their products on Google). Based on the above information and as a consultant to Amazon, please explain how you would advise Amazon to increase its competitiveness against competitors in traditional and electronic stores.

d- After Amazon failed to convince customers to buy food only online, the idea of Amazon Go came as a pioneer in the United States. However, it was limited to a specific category of society, who own smartphones, credit cards, and the Amazon Premium application. In 2016 Amazon decided to test the performance of Amazon Go by conducting a survey. Survey results show that forty percent (40%) of the respondents disagree that Amazon Go will solve more problems for shoppers than it introduces. Explain this answer and what it might lead to in the company's strategy. Then suggest solutions

EXHIBIT 7 Stock Price Changes of Leading U.S. Grocers, June 15, 2017 to June 16, 2017 (market capitalization in \$ billions)