A big question in business is: To Diversify or Not to Diversify? Some corporations (like, Amazon, 3M and General Electric) have diversified broadly over years and have had great success. Other diversification attempts (like, Time Warner's purchase of AOL) have taken companies away from their core businesses and their experiences are less successful.
Study two corporations which have had different outcomes (one successful and one unsuccessful) with their diversification strategies. Distinguish each corporation's diversification strategy and estimate reasons for each one's success or failure in venture.
1. Distinguish two businesses--core business, their size, financials, global presence, use of e-business (marketing, sales, etc.).
2. Distinguish their outcomes (one successful, one unsuccessful).
3. Examine three primary reasons for the different outcomes.
4. Suggest two actions the unsuccessful one could have made to make their diversification venture successful.