Beginning with $60,000 and a dream, Alibaba.com shot to the top in less than two years and is now the world’s largest online marketplace for international trade among small- and medium-sized enterprises. But just like the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, making it inside the cave is only the beginning of the adventure. Professor Ming Zeng describes Alibaba.com’s rise, explains the challenges it faces, and asks where the company should go next.
“This case is a rich source for discussing numerous issues: Chinese entrepreneurship and emerging companies in China; how best to manage and support a fast-growing start-up; the interaction of Chinese culture, Internet culture, and Western managerial practices; and the development of the B2B marketplace, particularly in Asia.”
Author: Ming Zeng
Source: INSEAD
Subjects: International – Asia, Strategy
Company: Alibaba.com
Click to Add the First »