Alibaba: To make it easy to do business anywhere

Alibaba, the world’s largest and the most valuable e-commerce corporation, initially raised $21.8 billion IPO at the New york stock exchange. I learned from Comm 101 that this phenomenon shows how well-known and famous Alibaba has already been before its IPO.

This aroused my curiosity: what made Alibaba such a successful and influential e-commerce corporation in the world?

After I did my research on Alibaba, a couple of the most impressive aspects about this company is its founder Jack Ma, who is one of the most prestigious, powerful and richest entrepreneur in China and even worldwide, and the corporate culture that he created for his employees and for Alibaba.

Personally I really appreciate the organizational culture that Jack Ma created for Alibaba and for his employees. Similar to Zappos generous and fair treatment to all its employees, all the staff  in Alibaba are also treated equally as family members in the big Alibaba family unity. All of them have the rights to express their genuine opinions and to criticize the company, different departments, and even the executive board (in a authentic and respectful manner) through an internal communication platform. I believe this transparent measure of criticizing is one crucial reason why the company can grow so rapidly as Alibaba is so open to diverse criticisms and so acceptant of new ideas and good advice.  I believe that Alibaba’s culture make its employees feel more comfortable and confident to express their personal opinions which result in an engaging workforce environment and more innovative ideas.

Alibaba’s annual mass wedding

Another example that reflects Alibaba’s organizational culture is Jack Ma conducting a mass wedding ceremony every May for his employees. This annual custom shows how much a leader cares about its employees like his own family. Although Alibaba earned negative gross profit from doing this for its employees every year, the trusting bond that was built overtime between employees and the company through the company’s different people-orientated policies can really have an immensely positive impact on the performance of the employees in the long run.

I believe that Alibaba’s corporate culture shows Jack Ma’s caring to all his employees, who, as a result, become more willing and motivated to dedicate themselves to the development of the company.

Through the example of Alibaba, I have gained a deeper understanding that a strong and people-orientated organizational culture is also an essential component for a business to succeed and flourish.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/22/us-alibaba-ipo-value-idUSKCN0HH0A620140922

http://www.forbes.com/profile/jack-ma/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/hengshao/2014/05/13/a-peek-inside-alibabas-corporate-culture/

http://online.thatsmags.com/post/jack-ma-officiates-bizarre-alibaba-mass-wedding

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organizational_culture

http://www.entrepreneur.com/encyclopedia/corporate-culture