R&R

 In Amazon’s organisational and vendor management context, R&R serves as a foundational element of operational clarity and accountability. Clearly defined R&R structures prevent overlaps, miscommunication, and delays in execution across cross-functional teams such as Retail, Supply Chain, Finance, and Advertising.

Typical R&R Applications within Amazon:

1. Internal Amazon Teams:
   • Defines ownership between departments (e.g., Retail vs. Operations vs. Finance).
   • Clarifies which team manages forecasting, pricing, inventory, or marketing.
   • Commonly documented in WBR (Weekly Business Review) and QBR (Quarterly Business Review) summaries.
2. Amazon–Vendor Collaboration:
   • Specifies which side (Amazon or Vendor) is responsible for forecasting, replenishment, content, compliance, and dispute management.
   • Example:
     • Amazon: Forecast accuracy, purchase orders, inbound logistics coordination.
     • Vendor: Product availability, packaging compliance, on-time shipment.
3. Cross-Functional Projects:
   • Used in large-scale initiatives (e.g., Vendor Flex, Planned Replenishment (PR) rollouts).
   • Establishes clear accountability for tasks such as tech integration, data accuracy, and delivery SLAs.

Benefits for Amazon:

• Operational efficiency: Reduces duplication of effort and bottlenecks.
• Transparency: Creates clear accountability and performance tracking.
• Scalability: Enables structured execution across large teams and global programmes.
• Decision alignment: Supports Amazon’s “single-threaded leader” model, where each owner drives end-to-end responsibility.

Benefits for Vendors:

• Clarity: Understands exactly who to contact for specific issues (e.g., VM, SC Manager, Ads Lead).
• Faster resolution: Reduces back-and-forth in ticketing and escalation processes.
• Partnership structure: Enhances collaboration through well-defined accountability.

Challenges:

• Overlapping ownership: Blurred boundaries can cause duplication or miscommunication.
• Evolving roles: As Amazon reorganises or automates, R&R must be frequently updated.
• Dependency risks: Poorly defined R&R may lead to unassigned or delayed tasks.

Why It Matters:
Clear Roles and Responsibilities are vital for Amazon’s data-driven and decentralised culture. They ensure speed, ownership, and accountability - three principles central to Amazon’s operational excellence.

Example:
In a Vendor Account setup, R&R might specify that:

• The Vendor Manager (VM) owns commercial negotiations and pricing.
• The Supply Chain Manager (SCM) owns forecasting and PO confirmation.
• The Retail Readiness Specialist owns PDP content optimisation.

In short:
R&R (Roles and Responsibilities) defines who owns which tasks, decisions, and deliverables - ensuring accountability, clarity, and efficiency across Amazon’s internal teams and vendor relationships.