鈥淲orking Backwards: Insights, Stories and Secrets from Inside Amazon,鈥� Colin Bryar and Bill Carr (St. Martin鈥檚 Press)
This book reads like a how-to guide, which perhaps is by design 鈥� Bryar and Carr both were long-time Amazonians and their vantage point is that of an enthusiast rather than a critic.
To be sure, Amazon offers much to admire.
The company is approaching 1 million employees, a stunning rise from the 600 in 1997, the company鈥檚 first year as a public company.
Bryar and Carr鈥檚 book derives its title from Amazon鈥檚 practice of designing a business segment starting with the desired customer experience.
Well, that鈥檚 not so different, you say.
But Amazon excels in part because it has created rigorous procedures for everything it does.
Rather than using widely used presentation slide series for example, where the information is distilled into graphics and phrases, Amazon culture calls for a six-page report, believing the demands of such narratives sharpen thinking.
It鈥檚 hard to argue with Amazon鈥檚 success 鈥� operating income
Pay and bonus plans are focused on long-term success rather than the annual reckoning common with other companies. Amazon wants its people to think over the horizon.
Some Amazon standards are givens 鈥� earn trust, hire and develop the best; other standards are bolder 鈥� a bias for action 鈥� and these separate the company from timid competitors.
Can Amazon鈥檚 practices simply be installed at other companies, sort of a tonic for success? Absent the adoption of Amazon鈥檚 up-tempo and meticulous company culture, probably not. And for a critical analysis of the company, the culture and it economic impact, we must go elsewhere.
Studying Amazon could become a full-time job. Several books have been written about the company and founder Jeff Bezos in the last year alone according to a survey of titles offered on... Amazon. Among the those recent publications: 鈥淪elling on Amazon for Dummies.鈥�
How sturdy and lasting Amazon鈥檚 practices and culture will be may be coming into view soon. Earlier this month, Bezos said he is transitioning from chief executive to executive chairman.
It鈥檚 a safe bet Amazon鈥檚 core principles and practices will remain essentially intact, not because Bezos will be watching from the executive suite but because Bryar, Carr and legions of current managers at the company believe in the Amazon way.
Jeff Rowe, The Associated Press
