¶ … Wal-Mart from a couple of perspectives. First it analyzes the legal, social and economic environments. The second part analyzes Wal-Mart's managerial, operational and financial issues. Particular attention is paid to project management, contingency planning and staffing needs.
External Environment Analysis.
Wal-Mart competes using a cost leadership strategy. It promises low costs to consumers and backs this up by leveraging its exceptional purchasing power and its efficient inbound logistics system. In the difficult economic environment of the past few years, this strategy has been successful in helping Wal-Mart to avoid the substantial revenue losses faced by many other retailers. At the outset of the recession in 2008-2009, Wal-Mart benefited as consumers traded down to cost leaders from higher-end stores (LaMotta, 2009). Economic recovery has not harmed Wal-Mart either, partly because of the slow gains in employment, and Wal-Mart has continued to see revenue growth over this period as it retains customers attracted during the sluggish economy (MSN Moneycentral, 2011). The Congressional Budget Office is forecasting relatively slow growth, which should help Wal-Mart continue to retain budget-conscious consumers (CBO, 2011).
The legal environment provides few impediments to Wal-Mart. Occasionally, the company has come under legal action for issues relating to workplace discrimination (Stohr, 2011) and this could introduce significant risk to the company given the size of the suit, now before the U.S. Supreme Court. The size and significance of this case notwithstanding, lawsuits including class action suits are a commonly-faced risk for companies the size of Wal-Mart. The company's 2010 Form 10-K indicates that the company is facing legal proceedings relating to consumer law, tort law, employment law and other forms of legal action as well.
The social environment is generally favorable to Wal-Mart. The company may be derided in some quarters, but its sales figures paint the picture of a very popular company that has a high social standing in the community. Wal-Mart is relatively proactive with respect to social trends, for example the promotion of green technology and corporate social responsibility. The company's goals for sustainability, for example, are to be "supplied 100% by renewable energy, to create zero waste and to sell products that sustain...
Wal-Mart Company background: Amongst the world's biggest sellers as well as top ranking businesses comes the outstanding name of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. It competed against all of the rivals as well as demonstrated outstanding distinction amongst them by providing a profit 3 times bigger than France's Carrefour SA, which happens to be on the second place in the world's leading retailers. The workers at Wal-Mart surpass the volume of 1.2 million. With
According to one recent study there is little for the employees to fear concerning outsourcing. The results show that although service outsourcing has been steadily increasing it is still very low, and that in the United States and many other industrial countries 'insourcing' of services is greater than outsourcing" (Amiti, 2005, p. 308). The core team concept helps to emphasize the fact that many companies are outsourcing by insourcing, and
Wal-Mart Inc.: Operations Strategy Matrix Operations Strategy Matrix: Wal-Mart Inc. Wal-Mart is the world's largest retailer. It commits itself to providing everyday low prices to consumers to enable them live better. Its decisions center largely around the provision of commodities at low prices when customers need them. This text examines Wal-Mart's operational strategy and proposes a number of decisions that it could take to improve its standing in the retail market. Wal-Mart Inc.:
Organizational Culture of Wal-Mart Since the year of 2008, Wal-Mart has been branded that name but before then, it was an American international trader company that runs chains of big discount department stores and warehouse supplies. Wal- Mart has turned into the world's third biggest public corporation, dependable with the Fortune Global 500 list in the year of 2012.This business has also turned out to be a private employer in the
Management Wal-Mart's challenges in the Global market Wal-Mart as the world's leading retailer has been spreading very fast extending its power across the world market. This began with the nine countries in South America, Asia, and Europe. This expansion is likely to extend even in the near future. As the company attempts at penetrating the hypermarket culture in different countries, it has encountered a battery of severe problems in the process of
Utilitarianism Case 1- Dating at Wal-Mart According to utilitarianism, the physical act of adultery cannot be judged moral or immoral until situated by intention and circumstances. In this case, the married woman was separated from her husband and wasn't aware of the no-dating rule in the handbook. Further, there is no evidence of direct or immediate harm. The affair did not disrupt the workplace, cause internal turmoil or damage Wal-Mart's reputation as
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