DIRECTIONS: Read the Harvard Business Review articles 1 and 2, to include the Overstock.com organizational announcements that are included in the first attachment. Develop a minimum 4 to 7 page paper regarding how Bed Bath & Beyond organizational strategies started to fail and result in present day closure of 150 retail stores around the world, to include a merger with Overstock.com. In your own opinion, what strategies (or lack thereof) caused them to be in this position? From your own unique perspective, did they ever possess a distinct competitive advantage that others may have found it difficult to replicate? What was it? Why did their original strategies resonate with customers? Based on the HBR case study and org announcements, why were they unable to sustain a strong corporate brand? Based on what you are able to summarize from the findings of the research, was the move to overstock.com a good organizational move? Why? What were other alternatives that could have been incorporated to enhance their survival into 2025? Explain in detail. Although you are allowed and encouraged to use supplemental research that you locate to support your findings, you are not required to.
As you formulate your paper, keep these questions in mind as you develop your thoughts: Describe some of the reasons in the market that may have contributed to the demise of Bed Bath & Beyonds’ organizational downfall. Did BBY utilize a centralized or decentralized management strategy? Did their strategy elevate or erode their effectiveness? Did this approach elevate or hinder their business model? How so? How did acquisitions help elevate their quest for excellence in apparel production? How did BBY initially generate their corporate revenues? Was this effective for them? Why? Lastly, explain specifically how BBY corporate leaders failed their stakeholders, employees, and customers, provided if you feel they did? How so? Be specific and provide examples from the HBR case study, organizational announcements, and even other research that you incorporate in your paper to fully support your reasoning. APPLY APA 7TH FORMAT WHEN DEVELOPING YOUR PAPER. To support your success, the Harvard Business Review Article (BedBath& Beyond2) further outlines BBBY’s operations into 2020. I recommend using all products to support development of your paper.
