Case Study Analysis Wal-Mart’s Current Strategy and Challenges Executive Summary Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is the largest retail company in the United States. Their corporate strategy is four parts: Dominance in the retail market, expansion in the U.S. and International markets, creation of positive brand and company recognition and branch out into new sectors of retail. We will answer some questions and discuss to better understand Wal-Mart’s strategies. What are the threats and challenges Wal-Mart is facing? What priorities did CEO Lee Scott set in his “Wal-Mart: 21st Century Leadership” address? Discuss initiatives outlined in “Supplemental Benefits Documentation: Board of Directors Retreat FY06”. Was damage done to …show more content…
Mr. Scott wanted to start looking at these issues through a different lens to deal with the issues. He feels they need to be more committed to the issues, and as the leader of retail becoming the most competitive and innovated company in the world, they need be better at attacking the issues mentioned earlier. As Wal-Mart looks at the issues in a different light it will allow them to grow and become a better company. They will be able to push the envelope and force their competitors to do the same. It will reduce their cost and provide them with the ability to expand even more locally and globally. These issues can also help solve the challenges and threats they are experiencing now and what they will experience in the future. Q3 Initiatives outlined in the “Supplemental Benefits Documentation: Board of Directors Retreat FY 06. The initiatives discussed dealt with three of the biggest benefit-related challenges the company is facing, which are growth in benefits, the associates’ satisfaction of benefits and Wal-Mart’s healthcare benefits. They devised a nine limited-risk initiative and five bold steps to deal with the challenges. Limited-risk initiatives is having Wal-Mart to adjust the eligibility requirements for health insurance, minimize the subsidies provided to spouses,
Wal-Mart is an American multinational retail corporation and one of the leading discount department retail stores (Wikipedia). It is the highest- grossing company in the United States (Fortune 2008a), and is by far one of the most successful companies worldwide. Wal-Mart offers a place to buy the majority of our goods under one roof like electronics, furniture, clothing, pharmacy, sports, food, books etc. Wal-Mart sells good at lower price than the others and this is even shown by its slogan “save money, live better”. It drives out smaller and sometimes even the expensive stores out of business due to its lower prices. Wal-Mart provides jobs for thousands of
4. Relations with Suppliers- Wal-Mart has in place a system that helps to achieve their goal of lower prices. This Information Technology system includes computers, networking, and internet that cuts inventories and waste and helps with speedy delivery. This system also helps Wal-Mart to keep in constant contact with suppliers by transferring the data that suppliers need so they know what Wal-Mart needs. Wal-Mart also works with suppliers to improve their production and squeezes the best prices out of its supplier. The video referred to Wal-Mart as the customer’s agent. All of this focus Wal-Mart puts on suppliers reduces costs and lowers prices. Wal-Mart’s technological/logistical leadership remains unmatched by competitors (Web, 2005).
With around 5000 retail outlets worldwide, operating in more then a dozen countries and with over US$286 billion in annual sales, Wal-Mart is the top retail chain and number one fortune 500 company in the world. Wal-Mart is the top employer in the U.S. with 1.3 million employees, “the company accounts for 9 cents of every US retail dollar and sells around 20 per cent of the nation’s groceries and pharmaceuticals.” (Times News Network).
Wal-Mart, the multi-billion company and the second largest employer in the world, is the most controversial corporation in the world. Wal-Mart is a global powerhouse and affects many people around the world. Wal-Mart is constantly getting attacked from unions, human rights groups, small towns and small businesses. Wal-Mart is accused of treating their workers poorly and driving small businesses out of business. But however these accusations are false or over exaggerated. Wal-Mart offers families and low income people quality products. Also, they pay their workers competitive wages and treat them with respect. Wal-Mart opens their stores in rural and under developed areas. Wal-Mart improves the lives of the people who live rural area and
Wal-Mart is the world's largest retail and departmental store chain. Having business operations in 27 countries with 69 different brand names, Wal-Mart is able to serve a huge number of customers per day. Wal-Mart is the fastest growing and the most successful retail brand in the world. The factors which make it the strongest brand in its industry include large customer base, sound financial strength, strong brand image, and huge supply chain network. Wal-Mart has certain weaknesses in its operations and business setup like low acceptability of certain products, high employee turnover, and less recognition of newly introduced brands. These weaknesses can be overcome by availing attractive opportunities from the market and investing more in the most profitable areas. Wal-Mart faces the biggest threat from its competitors and ever-changing customer preferences.
The company needs collaboration. Therefore, the company will have to associate with right people or partners to enhance their productivity and growth in business. Wal-Mart started on a small scale and has made a great impact socially and economically not only in the United States but other nations as well; increasing products and services for the numerous consumers especially at lower prices. According to Lavallee & Boyer, Wal-Mart is known to be an initiator and receiver of globalization and has really transformed retail industry in the United States.
Wal-Mart is a world-wide active American retail trade company and currently the largest retail company in the world. Beginning in 1962, Wal-Mart has made the transition from a small firm in Arkansas to the largest employer with 3, 800 store units in the United States with record revenues today. But nevertheless, since Wal-Mart launched its online branch, it had to suffer from substantial setbacks from competitors such as Amazon.com or Ebay.
Wal-Mart is one of the most successful retailers in the world (Wal-Mart corporate 2012). Currently, there
Wal-Mart is a brand that is well known around the world, especially in the USA. It has gradually developed into the largest retailer in the world. Wal-Mart’s globalization efforts have been happening rapidly. But have they been successful in all aspects of their international expansion or not? This is the main thought that is going to be discussed in this essay. The questions I will be looking at are based on a case called “Wal-Mart takes on the world” from the book of International Business The Challenge of Global Competition eleventh edition – Ball, McCulloch, Geringer, Minor, and McNett. Questions are the following:
the superior tracking capability of RFID chips would reduce shrinkage and other forms of loss by up
The purpose of this business report is to gain familiarity with Wal-Mart and to learn about the different aspects that make Wal-Mart a successful company. This report gives an in-depth analysis of the company history, services and products provided, the company philosophy, business methods, organizational structure, and financial and competitive analysis.
These PEST factors also change over time, and since it has been years for me since being there, I fresh look is required. These constant changes may present new threats or opportunities that were otherwise not contemplated before (i.e. the Amazon effect). Walmart must exploit the opportunities and protect itself from threats. In using the PEST analysis, Walmart leaders and managers can determine which factors to prioritize in strategy development. Let’s look at each of the four factors in our further analysis.
Another problem that Wal-Mart faces is one shared by all people. There is a concern for the environmental well-being of the Earth. There is much press about corporations that have violated safe environmental practices. Their “receipt, transportation, handling, identification, recycling, treatment, storage and disposal” of hazardous material has been under scrutiny. Also their greatest associated environmental concern is urban sprawl. They have counteracted these problems by trying to become a greener company. They are working to reduce greenhouse
Wal-Mart is the largest retailer in the world, however, it is also known for ruthless exploitation of employee, squeezing suppliers, and crushing communities. It has been the Public Enemy No. 1 for a generation of activists and reformers. To cope with these oppositions, Wal-Mart responded vigorously and, instead, announced plans to preserving the environment, fighting hunger, empowering women and providing access to healthy, affordable food.