ALIBABA – BUILDING A SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY ECOSYSTEM FOR E-

COMMERCE

Discussion Questions

Questions:

1. Why does Alibaba focus so much on small businesses ? Is it only to fulfill CSR ?
If not, how is it helping them in their business pursuit, financial viability and
sustainability ?
2. What is the role played by the other stakeholder’s in the Alibaba Groups
ecosystem ? How do you see the demand by sellers on Taobao for free listing in
the initial years and Jack Ma conceding to their demand ? What were the
consequences to these actions ?
3. Compare and contrast the concept of ”Taobao Villages” with “Rural Taobao”. Do
you think that Rural Taobao is a sustainable strategy ? If so how ? If not why
not ?
4. If an e-commerce firm of India would like to adopt a strategy similar to that of
Alibaba’s, in terms of ecosystem building and focus on small business and rural
markets, what are the challenges it would face ? Is adoption of similar strategy
advisable and if so do you have any suggestions for successful implementation
of such a strategy ?
5. Analyse the case from the perspective of three dimensions of sustainability.
Which of the SDGs are realized through Alibaba ? Justify the Answer.
6. What are the technology challenges faced, if any, by Alibaba ?