Assignment 2 – Organizing Principles at Andronico and Amazon

Due September 17

We organize things and we organize information. This assignment explores the differences and similarities in how we do so. In this assignment you will compare and contrast the organizing principles and design patterns guiding the organization of resources in Andronico’s (using the attached store map) and at Amazon.com (using Amazon’s directory). We are aware that there are alternative ways of viewing Amazon’s resources via search, and that the resources may be organized very differently in Amazon’s warehouses. However, for the purposes of this assignment, use the directory as your guide.

Limit your analysis to what you can see or directly infer from the Andronico’s store map and Amazon.com.  You do not need to do any research about supermarket or e-commerce site design, and in fact if you try, it will probably just distract you.

Write up your analysis as a report with four sections (this ensures that you answer all the questions and makes it easier for us to evaluate your work consistently):

  1. What principles are used by Andronico’s in their organizing system? Define each principle and provide a specific example of resources whose organization follows it.

  2. What principles are used in the Amazon.com organizing system? Define each principle (if you haven’t already done so in part 1) and provide a specific example of resources whose organization follows it.

  3. Compare and contrast the principles behind the two organizing systems?

  4. Restate the principles so as to make them more similar. Can you take the principles from your previous level to such an abstract level that they apply to both organizing systems?

Your report should be approximately 1000 words, which is about 2.5 pages of double-spaced text in a standard font such as 12-point Times.

Submission instructions:

  • Email a PDF to your TA by 9 a.m. on the due date.
  • Include your name and assignment number somewhere on the page.
  • Name your file FirstnameLastnameA2.pdf.
  • All work should be double-spaced and set in a standard size and font such as 12-point Times or Arial.

 

 

 

 

StoreMap