...Paper FIN/370 June 18, 2012 Introduction Ethics and compliance play an important role in a company’s financial environment. In large corporations, such as Wal-Mart, who employ 2.1 million employees worldwide and 9029 retail units fewer than 60 different banners in 15 different countries is a prime example of how ethics and compliance practices are used effectively (Walmartstores.com) (2011). An assessment of the role ethics and compliance plays in Wal-Mart's financial environment along with procedures Wal-Mart has in place to ensure ethical behavior will be examined and discussed in this paper. Also covered in this paper: An explanation of how financial markets work in the United States and identifying the processes Wal-Mart uses to comply with SEC regulations, and an evaluation of Wal-Mart’s financial performance during the past two years using financial ratios and the trend each ratio tells about the financial health of the company. Assess the role of ethics and compliance in your organization’s financial environment The role of ethics and compliance in Wal-Mart’s financial environment is founded on the three Basic Beliefs set forth by Sam Walton (founder of Wal-Mart). The three Basic Beliefs as stated in Wal-Mart’s ethics statement are: Respect for the individual, Service to our customers and striving for excellence (Wal-Mart, n.d.). The open door communications process is another role of ethics and compliance in Wal-Mart’s financial environment. The open door...
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...FIN370/Finance for Business November 19, 2012 Wal-Mart: Ethics and Compliance Wal-Mart Stores, Inc, known as WMT on the flow of the New York Stock Exchange, has become the number one retailer in the world, a far stretch from what founder Sam Walton ever imagined, when he opened the first Wal-Mart ever in 1962 with its first 25 employees. Walton’s retailer foundation of offering the lowest price anytime anywhere would prove itself extremely successful. Today Wal-Mart Stores Inc, operates more than 10,500 stores in 27 countries and it employs about 2.2 Million employees. With much financial success, Wal-Mart prides its self not only in its financial success but also in its obligations to the community. Wal-Mart participates in Community giving programs, in environmental sustainability programs and even, financially gives billions in the efforts in the fight against hunger by making food not only more affordable but also healthier. “Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest” -Mark Twain ("Walmart Statement Of Ethics", 2012). This is the quote that appears in Wal-Mart’s code of ethics when you get to their “financial integrity” section. In their code of conduct/ethics, Wal-Mart makes it very clear that they’re financial success is due in part to their upmost promise to abide by honest and accurate financial recording standards. The statement is directed to all associates (employees)...
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...Initially Wal-Mart started out with a single store in Northwest Arkansas. In less than 50 years Wal-Mart has become the world’s biggest retail chain as well acquiring thousands of stores and millions of associates. Ethics and integrity have been continuous throughout their transformation. Ethics and integrity have defined the company and how they treat their associates, the suppliers, and their patrons. The values that guide Wal-Mart’s decision and leadership are; respect for individuals, service to the customer, and striving for excellence. This paper can discuss Wal-Mart’s responsibility in regard to the role of ethics and compliance as it relates to their financial situation. An explanation of the measures used to ensure ethical behavior and recognize the methods used to conform to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) regulations. The past two years of Wal-Mart’s annual reports will be used to assess the company’s financial operations and in calculating their financial ratios. The organization’s trends and their financial well-being will be determined by their financial ratios. The role of ethics and compliance: Wal-Mart has three basic components to the role of ethics beliefs and they are “Respect for the individual” which means you should treat everyone with respect and to show consideration for any interaction with customers and co-workers, be courteously and kind at all times. “Service to the...
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...coming across the organization process of Wal-Mart, Sam Walton was the creator in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas (Wal-Mart Corporate, 2012). The organizing process is described as the management function of pulling together and synchronizing human financial, physical information and other assets required to accomplish goals (Bateman & Snell, 2009). In 1972 discount sores such as Kmart expanded. Sam Walton at that point in time had 15 Wal-Mart stores and did not have the funds to increase the amount of stores, so he offered Wal-Mart stock to the New York Stock Exchange. For the reason of the large profit that toke place from the sales of stock, Wal-Mart was able to expand. By the 80s hit Wal-Mart had 276 stores Wal-Mart Corporate, 2012). Organizing contains numerous organizational resources, physical assets, knowledge, funds, and human resources. In this paper we will talk about human resources and monetary of Wal-Mart. Human Resources of Wal-Mart Managing and upholding of the human resources section is imperative while assessing how effective the organizing function is. “People are assets not commodities” (Bateman & Snell, 2009). The supervisors as well as the businesses have to work collectively to take into service the correct people for the occupation. Human resource management is in charge of recruiting, training, performance evaluations, rewards, labor relations, earnings, and benefits (Bateman & Snell, 2009). Wal-Mart provides work for about 2.1 million associates...
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...University of Salford Salford Business School Course: MSC Management Module title: Human Resource Management TITLE OF ASSIGNMENT: Human Resouce Strategy of Wal-Mart inc Name: Agbasimelo E. Ifeanyi Roll no: @00316215 Instructed by: Abdoulie SALLAH Table of Contents Table of Contents (This page) ------------------------------------------------------------------------2 1.0 Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------3 2.0 Wal-Mart Human resource strategy ------------------------------------------------------------------------4 2.1 Recruitment and selection ------------------------------------------------------------------------4 2.2 Training and development ------------------------------------------------------------------------6 2.3 Employee motivation and Reward / benefits ---------------------------------------------------------7 2.3.1 Financial benefits ------------------------------------------------------------------------8 2.3.2 Health and awareness benefits ------------------------------------------------------------------------8 2.4 Performance management --------------------------------------------------------------------------9 3.0 Challenges faced by the human...
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...Investment in Wal-Mart When making the decision to invest into a company, many factors come into place that has to be taken into consideration before the investment can be done. During this period Team A has done a lot of research into Wal-Mart and what type of company they are and if it would be a good idea to do anything with them. After all the research has been done by Team A, it has been decided that investing in Wal-Mart has a mutual fund manager would be a great idea. The reason Team A has decided to invest in Wal-Mart is because after looking over Wal-Mart’s financial and how the company has been doing over the years in the stock market it has been growing at a rapid pace and Wal-Mart is setting themselves up to be a very profitable company that will be around for a long period of time. Becoming a mutual fund manager and investing in Wal-Mart there are different factors that have to be factored in. Some of those factors consist of knowing the value of the company, how does the company perform during a fiscal year, how is the company’s management team and how will this company do over the next few years. Looking at Wal-Mart Cooperation has a whole has grown from one year to the next year. According to MSN Money, Wal-Mart stock has went up from $58 last year December 2011 to $68 this year December 2012. (MSN, 2012) Wal-Mart Cooperation has been around for many years but they started offering stock for investment back in 1970, when they began trading on the New York Stock...
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...quality products, and competitive prices is what make’s Wal-Mart the leading retailer industry in the country today. To achieve desired business goals the Walmart organization practices strategic planning processes that defines advantages or developments within the company’s goals and expectations. Presently the Walmart organization has considered expanding the company operations; however, the company has three options to consider before the expansion takes place. These options include selling more stock, bonds, and merging with another organization. Without growth, success cannot be achieved. Growth is the ultimate goal of organizations. Growth benefits organizations in that it; funds new projects, increases market share and consumer awareness, attracts bright new minds, enhances the ability to develop new ideas and ultimately leads to financial success. Growth in an organization can occur naturally, but most often is created. The Wal-Mart Corporation must compare and contrast and make a recommendation about which strategy the organization must choose in making the best decisions. By doing this the organization must consider the following strengths and weaknesses, opportunities, threats, and effects of globalization. The Merger Option In contrast to selling stock or issuing bonds to raise capital, merging with another company enables firms to acquire less debt, and retain more equity. Investopedia (2012) explains merger as “The combining of two companies, generally...
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...Human Resource Management Strategies of Wal-Mart TITLE OF ASSIGNMENT: Human Resource Strategy of Wal-Mart inc Table of Contents Table of Contents (This page) ------------------------------------------------------------------------2 1.0 Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------3 2.0 Wal-Mart Human resource strategy ------------------------------------------------------------------------4 2.1 Recruitment and selection ------------------------------------------------------------------------4 2.2 Training and development ------------------------------------------------------------------------6 2.3 Employee motivation and Reward / benefits ---------------------------------------------------------7 2.3.1 Financial benefits ------------------------------------------------------------------------8 2.3.2 Health and awareness benefits ------------------------------------------------------------------------8 2.4 Performance management --------------------------------------------------------------------------9 3.0 Challenges faced by the human resources -----------------------------------------------------------------9 4.0 Recommendations to overcome these challenges -----------------------------------------------------10 1.0 INTRODUCTION Human resource management according to Wilton (2011) in his book “an introduction to human resource management” is a phrase used...
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...establishing it. However, in the end, it is a strategic plan initiative that identifies how the organization plans to achieve its goals in the future. These goals not only include financial but also community, environmental, and charitable goals. The following data will cover Wal-Mart’s latest strategic initiative while answering several key questions concerning the initiative, which include: 1. How the initiative affects the organizations financial plan 2. How the initiative affects costs and sales 3. Risks and affects associated with the initiative Strategic Planning Initiative for Wal-Mart and Initiative Identified in Annual Report A strategic planning initiative Wal-Mart implemented to help grow the company is the “Save Money, Live Better” initiative. To ensure the initiative was a success, the company identified several components that needed to be addressed. For example, one of the “Save Money, Live Better” initiative’s objectives is to achieve price leadership for Wal-Mart. The company’s plan to achieve price leadership is to do everything in its power to offer its products at a greater value than other competitors in the market while not hindering the company’s growth objective (Murray, 2012). In response to the price leadership component of the initiative, Wal-Mart determined its private label products can both help increase the company’s revenue and aid in achieving the initiative’s objective. As a result of the economy’s current condition...
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...Ethics and Compliance This paper will access analyze data from Wal-Mart’s annual financial reports as well as Security and Exchange (SEC) filings for the past two years. This analysis will be used to evaluate the organization’s financial performance during the past two years using financial ratios. An assessment of the role of ethics, compliance and procedures currently in place to ensure organizational ethical behavior will also be addressed. An explanation of how financial markets operate within the United States will be discussed along with processes adopted by Wal-Mart which ensure SEC compliance. Role of Ethics and Compliance in Wal-Mart’s Financial Environment As the world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart has openly accepted a global responsibility of captivating ethical sourcing far beyond that of workplace compliance. As of today, the company possesses more than 10,700 business locations spread across 27 separate countries. Coupled initiatives such as diversity and inclusion, hunger and nutrition, women’s economic empowerment, environmental sustainability, and ethical standards and resources are directly aligned with the company’s “Every Day Low Cost” approach (Wal-Mart, 2012). This organization’s ethics and compliance roles have enabled the organization to reach far beyond store barriers proceeding to global financial wealth. Additionally ethical compliance protects the company from potential financial loss, corporate crimes, negative imaging, and forfeiture of comparative...
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...University of Phoenix FIN/370 June 7, 2012 Dr. Aziz Karim Wal-Mart Wal-Mart is a billion dollar store that supplies people with every need for their everyday lifestyle. With many assets in the company, the company has to keep a close look at the income and the outcome of the store. By doing this consist of the financial report, organization within the store, ethics, SEC report, and looking back at the store financial numbers in the past two years. Keeping a close eye on every aspect of the store will keep them longer in business and continue to supply every community worldwide. Assess the role of ethics and compliance in Wal-Mart organization’s financial environment Every organization has a set of ethical standards they must follow. Wal-Mart values are set apart from the others their Three Basic Beliefs are respect for the individual, service to the customers and striving for excellence. Associates in areas and levels of the business are responsible for understanding and complying with the Statement of Ethics (Wal-Mart, n.d.). The business organization Wal-Mart operates is expected to have a complete set of policies providing guidance to associates for whatever country they are working in. Wal-Mart management is responsible for creating an environment that encourages compliance with ethics standards. Wal-Mart believes open communication is critical to understanding and meeting their associates and customers’ needs (Wal-Mart, n.d.). Associates can trust and rely on...
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...Wal-Mart’s Promotion Mix and Integrated Marketing Communications Wal-Mart is a top ranked company with high financial performance. The giant is a none other-than a retailer of general and consumable goods. They are an envied company that seem to do everything right. As a company, they position themselves to address the needs of customers by operating retail stores around the world focusing saving people money so people so can have additional financial resources for other things. Combined efforts in Advertising, Direct marketing, internet marketing, sales promotion public relations and personal selling investigated to learn about their success. Wal-Mart operation is broken in three areas Wal-Mart US, Wal-Mart International and Wal-Mart international they also have Wal-Mart.com to shop and use free shipping. “The Wal-Mart International segment consists of the company’s operations outside of the United States and Puerto-Rico. The Sam’s club segments include warehouse membership clubs in the United States and Puerto Rico as well as Sam’s Club.com” (Arkansas, 2011). Wal-Mart international net sales, US sales and Sam’s sales were $109 billion, $260 billion $49 billion respectively for fiscal year 2011; Wal-Mart plan on growing stronger by opening new stores and selling more items. Wal-Mart is currently No 1. On the fortune, 500 companies; in 2010, sales were $ 422 billion, and they increase profits during the recession competing retailers struggling. Wal-Mart provides awareness...
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...| Financial Terms and Roles | Individual Assignment | | FIN/370 | May 7, 2012 Kristopher Karazassis | | Financial Terms and Roles Finance is concerned with how individuals, such as managers, lenders, businesses, firms, investors, and borrowers allocate money over a specified period. This paper lists the definitions and roles of financial and accounting terms provided in the course design. The terminology that follows explains and interprets the concepts and elements relevant to the first week’s objectives and topics in Finance 370. Emphasis is placed on types of securities, markets, finance, equity, liability, ratios, and assets. Finance is the study of how people and businesses evaluate investments and raise capital to fund them. The key role of finance is the management of cash flow in deciding on investments, how to fund them, how to allocate money for day-to-day operations over time, and the interpretation of financial concepts, which is the central focus of finance. Efficient Market is a market price unbiased of the investments true mean value. The fact that...
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...Ethics and Compliance FIN/370 August 13, 2012 Christopher Hernandez Ethics and Compliance Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is one of the most well-known and successful retail stores in the country. Wal-Mart fosters the pricing philosophy of “everyday low prices” (Wal-Mart, 2010, p. 3), which helps the company remain a leading competitor within the retail industry. Another reason for Wal-Mart’s success is its attitude of leading by integrity. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is a worldwide conglomerate. The company understands to stay competitive it must adhere to ethical guidelines and regulations. The following will illustrate the role of ethics and compliance within Wal-Mart’s financial environment, its procedures for ethical behavior, financial markets in the United States, SEC regulations, Wal-Mart’s financial performance for the last two years, and its financial health. The Role of Ethics and Compliance According to Wal-Mart’s CEO, Mike Duke, ethics and integrity has been a part of the company’s culture since its inception in 1962 (Wal-Mart, 2008). Ethics and compliance play major roles within the company’s financial environment. “Wal-Mart has a Statement of Ethics applicable to all associates” (Wal-Mart, 2003, para. 1). The CEO and Senior Financial Officers must conduct business in an honest and ethical manner. The Senior Financial Officers include the corporate controller, financing and tax associates, accounting officers, and the CFO. They must comply with the laws set...
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...Powell Wal-Mart MKTG305-1301A Applications in Marketing Project Type: Unit 5 Individual Project March 17, 2013 Abstract For this assignment, Wal-Mart was chosen as my Fortune 500 Company. Let’s begin by describing Wal-Mart’s main line of business and provide the name of four different countries that Wal-Mart operates. Then clarify the putting into practice the 4Ps marketing mix theory by Wal-Mart and explain any differences following the carrying out of this theory from country to country. Wal-Mart Wal-Mart stores has maintained being at the top of the corporate ladder and had been on top for two years in a row for Fortune 500 and Global 500 (CNN Money, 2013). Sam Walton opened a Walton’s 5 & 10 store on Bentonville Town Square in Arizona in 1950; this little dime store was the beginning for Wal-Mart. This location is now Wal-Mart’s Visitor Center. Sam Walton opened the first Wal-Mart in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas (Wal-Mart, 2012). Wal-Mart is all about helping people to save money so that they are able to live better lives. People are able to shop anytime, anywhere whether it is online, from their mobile devices, or in retail stores (Wal-Mart, 2012). Wal-Mart has locations operating in 27 different countries under 69 different banners. Four countries in which Wal-Mart operates are: United States, China, Argentina, and Japan. In the United States, there are Wal-Mart Supercenters, Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart Express, Neighborhood Markets, and Wal-Mart Discount...
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