Working Backwards
An insider’s guide to Amazon’s success and corporate practices.
Summary of 7 Key Points
Key Points
- Customer Obsession: Amazon’s Core Principle
- Leadership Principles That Drive Amazon
- Decision-making: The Six-Page Memo
- Bar Raiser Program: Hiring the Best
- Innovation through Working Backwards
- Maintaining Startup Agility Within a Giant Corporation
- The Two-Pizza Team Rule for Effective Collaboration
key point 1 of 7
Customer Obsession: Amazon’s Core Principle
Customer Obsession is the guiding principle at Amazon, where customers are prioritized above everything else. It means going beyond simply satisfying customers to truly understanding their needs, preferences, and future aspirations. It’s about putting the customer at the center of every decision they make, from developing new products and services to enhancing existing ones…Read&Listen More
key point 2 of 7
Leadership Principles That Drive Amazon
Leadership principles play a crucial role at Amazon, serving as the sturdy backbone of the company, guiding all employees in their decision-making process. These principles encourage leaders to think big, focus on long-term outcomes, and embrace an entrepreneurial mindset. One of the core principles is ‘customer obsession,’ which means prioritizing customer needs and working backwards from their perspective to design and deliver products…Read&Listen More
key point 3 of 7
Decision-making: The Six-Page Memo
The Six-Page Memo is a structured approach to decision-making that encourages precision, clarity, and deep thinking. The process begins by writing a six-page narrative memo. The memo is designed to present a detailed proposal, explaining the context, a clear problem statement, and a proposed solution. The first page typically includes an overview or introduction, while the remaining pages delve into the specifics of the proposal, including data, analyses, and any alternative options that were considered in reaching the decision…Read&Listen More
key point 4 of 7
Bar Raiser Program: Hiring the Best
The Bar Raiser program is a unique initiative in the hiring process that aims to maintain a high bar for talent. The primary goal is to ensure that every new hire will either meet or exceed the existing average level of competence within the group. A Bar Raiser is an interviewer who has the ability to veto any hiring decision if they believe the candidate does not meet the standard…Read&Listen More
key point 5 of 7
Innovation through Working Backwards
Innovation through working backwards is a strategic approach that champions the idea of first articulating a clear and compelling customer benefit, then moving backwards to identify the key steps necessary to achieve it. This process starts with a detailed vision of the customer experience. This vision is then used to drive decision-making about what resources and capabilities would be needed to bring that vision into reality…Read&Listen More
key point 6 of 7
Maintaining Startup Agility Within a Giant Corporation
Maintaining startup agility within a giant corporation involves embracing a culture of innovation and customer-centricity. This concept emphasizes the necessity of behaving like a startup, regardless of the size of the organization. It means being adaptable, taking risks, and encouraging employees to come up with innovative ideas. A business must strive to remain nimble, reacting quickly to market changes and customer needs, while simultaneously scaling its operations and structure…Read&Listen More
key point 7 of 7
The Two-Pizza Team Rule for Effective Collaboration
The Two-Pizza Team Rule demonstrates a creative approach to promote effective collaboration in an organization. According to this principle, the idea is to limit the size of a team to a number that can be fed by two pizzas. This rule is not strictly about the number but rather aims to encourage small, autonomous teams. It implies that teams should be small enough to maintain efficient communication and coordination, thereby fostering an environment where everyone knows their role, can contribute maximally and fully understand the common goal…Read&Listen More