1. How has Amazon responded to the design challenges?

(a) Is it centralized or decentralized?

How do you know?

(b) Is it highly differentiated?

Can you identify any integrating mechanisms used by Amazon?

What is the match between the complexity of differentiation and the complexity of the integrating mechanisms that are used? (c) Is behavior in the organization very standardized, or does mutual adjustment play an important role in coordinating people and activities?

What can you tell about the level of formalization by looking at the number and kinds of rules the organization uses?

How important is socialization in your organization?

2. Does your analysis in item 3 lead you to think that amazon conforms more to the organic or to the mechanistic model of organizational structure? Briefly explain why you think it is organic or mechanistic.

3. From your analysis so far, what do you think could be done to improve the way your organization operates?