Final answer:
Alibaba's core competency, as presented in the opening case, is an innovation and technology-driven culture that emphasizes the strategic use of technology for global market expansion and competition, aligning with modern business practices that prioritize fewer areas of focus for greater effectiveness.
Step-by-step explanation:
In evaluating Alibaba's core competency, it is essential to consider the company's strategic focus and strengths. Based on the information provided, innovation and technology-driven culture emerge as Alibaba's core competency. This focus on technology aligns with the mentioned patterns of successful businesses concentrating on their core competencies to become more effective in their markets. Alibaba leverages technology for various purposes, including the enhancement of its market reach through globalization. The company skillfully incorporates technology to adapt to the interconnected shifts towards a more digitized economy, thus effectively contributing to Alibaba's status as an economic powerhouse. The technological infrastructure allows Alibaba to compete on a global scale, expanding its consumer base far beyond local retail, and exemplifies a technology-driven approach to innovation. Therefore, the company's focus on utilizing technology to innovate and expand in response to global market changes underscores its core competency within the framework of the opening case.