Question

Topic: Strategy

Optimal Department Structure

Posted by Anonymous on 3/9/2008 at 2:50 AM ET 125 Points
What would be the optimal department structure in terms of staff and functions for an e-commerce website like amazon.com targeting a potential buyers base of 600,000 people?
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by michael on 3/11/2008 at 5:49 PM Accepted
    Are you trying to staff for a customer base or a POTENTIAL customer base. 2 completely different animals.

    If you've got 100 customers who order monthly, you can get by with 2 people.

    Michael
  • Posted by matthewmnex on 3/12/2008 at 3:31 AM Accepted
    Too little information to give a reasonable answer.

    Are you purchasing and carrying stock and then re shipping? or re selling 3rd party items that are shipped by the seller?

    600K Clients? (ie people who have bought from your before) or 600K prospects in a database? very different.

    I am currently sending 6M emails per month with various different co branded e-commerce shopping offers. Fulfillment, returns and customer service all handled by the 3rd merchants themselves including collection.

    I need a team of 1 (myself for this) :) If you plan to handle Collection, fulfillment, returns, customer service, + Purchasing, marketing etc etc. then you need at least 1 person for each of these functions.

    Hope it is helpful.

    Matthew
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