Your director at Amazon asks about Amazon Business: should we implement more Amazon Business approval workflows or keep purchasing simple?

Introduction

The trade-off we're examining today is whether Amazon Business should implement more approval workflows or keep purchasing simple. This decision is crucial for balancing user experience with corporate control and compliance needs. I'll analyze this trade-off by considering user impact, business goals, and technical implications, ultimately providing a data-driven recommendation.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Context: Based on the current Amazon Business model, I'm thinking we're primarily serving mid to large enterprises. Could you confirm our target customer segments and their typical purchasing behaviors?

Why it matters: Helps tailor the solution to our core users' needs Expected answer: Primarily mid to large enterprises with complex approval processes Impact on approach: Would lean towards more robust approval workflows if confirmed

• Business Context: I'm assuming this decision is driven by a need to increase adoption and revenue. Can you share how this aligns with our current business priorities and revenue model?

Why it matters: Ensures the solution supports overarching business goals Expected answer: Focus on increasing customer acquisition and average order value Impact on approach: Would balance simplicity for new users with advanced features for power users

• User Impact: Considering the diverse user roles in B2B purchasing, how do our current approval workflows affect different user segments (e.g., buyers, approvers, administrators)?

Why it matters: Identifies pain points and opportunities for different user types Expected answer: Varied satisfaction levels across user roles Impact on approach: Would suggest a modular approach to cater to different user needs

• Technical Feasibility: What's our current technical capability to implement more complex approval workflows? Are there any major constraints or ongoing initiatives we should be aware of?

Why it matters: Determines the scope and timeline of potential solutions Expected answer: Existing workflow engine with some limitations Impact on approach: Would influence the complexity of proposed solutions and implementation timeline

• Resource Allocation: How does this initiative rank in terms of priority for our product and engineering teams? What resources are available for implementation and ongoing support?

Why it matters: Helps scope the solution based on available resources Expected answer: Medium priority with limited dedicated resources Impact on approach: Would focus on high-impact, low-effort improvements initially