...such laws are effective? If so, why? If not, why not? So the question asks if the several laws that the United States has to further fair, balanced, and competitive business practices are effective. My opinion not so much. There are many big companies out there that have stepped out of line and because they have good lawyers they are able to break those laws without getting penalized. However there are those occasions that those laws actually help out. One example is the Antitrust Law. Also referred to as "Competition Laws" - are statutes developed by the U.S. Government to protect consumers from predatory business practices by ensuring that fair competition exists in an open-market economy. One particular company that plays with these laws is Walmart. Walmart has many stores throughout the country and for many people it is the only store that has what they need. It is the one stop shop for many people in the Midwest. They have taken over towns and cities promising to not harm small shops and to give back to the people and it communities. Walmart is using the antitrust law in in Europe so that they can be in Europe and be that Monopoly. So with that being said Walmart is very familiar with such law. Another example of this company playing with this law is with Coka-Cola. Coka-Cola had a product they were going to release in America however in this new product Walmart did not like one ingredient so they refused to sell the product. Walmart accounts for 30% of sales in this...
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...against women, racial minorities, and the job loss of the American people. Central Idea: By shopping at wal-mart you are encouraging the continuance of gender discrimination, racial discrimination, unsupportive pay scale, and the outsourcing of American jobs by the closing of small businesses. Introduction I. Wal-Mart leads you to believe that they are an equal opportunity employer, while white men fill the majority of management positions. II. Wal-Mart states that they are one of the top paying employers with full-time benefits, yet the majority of their employees are keep under part-time positions. III. Many small businesses are forced out of business due to false price-cutting by Wal-Mart. (Transition: Wal-Mart can hurt the people it comes in contact with in many ways, including its own employees, starting with the women.) Body I. Wal-Mart is currently involved in the largest class-action lawsuit in history. A. 1.5 million women are suing Wal-Mart for gender discrimination in management hiring practices. i. Started with 6 women suing Wal-Mart in 2001. B. In its 6-5 ruling, the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals said the world’s largest private employer will have to face charges that it pays women less than men for the same jobs and that female employees receive fewer promotions and have to wait longer for those promotions than male counterparts. C. Women consist of 62.1% of all of Wal-Mart’s employees;...
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...1. Why was/were the firm(s) investigated for antitrust behavior? The Justice Department and the states believe that Microsoft has used its monopoly in operating system software to protect its dominance and eliminate competitors. The government says that in the long run, consumers will be harmed, because there will be less competition and fewer choices. More specifically, the government contends that Microsoft has engaged in actions to preserve its Windows monopoly that violate antitrust laws. The government also maintains that the company has used the power of its Windows monopoly to attempt to monopolize the market for Internet browsing software. In addition, government lawyers allege that the company has committed other anti-competitive acts. Microsoft contends that it is simply trying to innovate its products. The company contends that its actions are legal and says that there's no grounds of consumer indignation over the practices that the government is targeting. If the government wins at the trial court, it has already specified that it wants Microsoft to cancel contracts deemed exclusionary. In addition, the government wants Microsoft either to strip out its Internet browsing technology from Windows 98 or to include a rival browser made by Netscape Communications Corp. The plaintiffs alleged that Microsoft abused monopoly power on Intel-based personal computers in its handling of operating system sales and web browser sales. The issue central to the case was whether...
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...| Walmart | | | | | Danielle S Holley | 11/28/2011 | | Firms choose from different business-level strategies in order to proposer in today’s markets. One of these being the Cost Leadership Strategy, an integrated set of actions taken to produce goods or services with features that are acceptable to customers at the lowest cost, in comparison to their competitors. Firms that chose to use this strategy must sell standardized goods and services which have to also include competitive levels of differentiation to the market’s regular customers. Cost leaders have to examine all support activities to find extra resources in order to cut production costs allowing them to maintain low costs for their customers. In any industry fixed and variable costs can cause companies to go out of business. Cost Leadership Strategy can put a strain on companies because they have to keep developing new technology that can support low cost goods and services (with differentiation) as well as low production costs to satisfy the needs of customers in the market place. Using this strategy effectively can earn firms above-average returns in spite of rivals in the industry. Having the low-cost position in an industry is valuable way to deal with competitors. The cost leader’s strategic position causes competitors to think twice before they compete on the basics of price and technology against the potential outcomes of such competition (Hitt). Walmart is known for its ability...
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...Tony’s Wholesale Company, a fictitious business that supplies snacks to stores. The data highlight characteristics such as order date, cus- tomer, sales representative, product, quantity, and profit. The second line in Figure 1.2, for instance, shows that Roberta Cross sold 90 boxes of Ruffles to Walmart for $1,350, resulting in a profit of $450 (note that Profit = Sales − Costs). These data are useful for understanding individual sales; however, they do not provide us much insight into how Tony’s business is performing as a whole. Tony needs to answer questions that will help him manage his day-to-day operations such as: * Who are my best customers? * Who are my least-profitable customers? * What is my best-selling product? * What is my slowest-selling product? * Who is my strongest sales representative? * Who is my weakest sales representative? What Tony needs, in other words, is not data but information. Management Information Systems: Business Driven MIS Order Date Customer 4-Jan Walmart 4-Jan Walmart 5-Jan Safeway 6-Jan Walmart 7-Jan 7-Eleven 7-Jan Walmart 8-Jan Kroger 9-Jan Walmart 10-Jan Target 11-Jan Walmart Sales...
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...currently allows buyers to purchase out-of-state item and avoid having to pay sales tax. Since every state and location have different tax requirement, the MFA intend to design tax software to help companies calculate their taxes and collect taxes for up to 46 states. One of the MFA’s main goals is to level the playing field between the local and online retailers by mandating the necessary taxes to be collect equally by every business. The MFA also attempts to protect the small businesses from the unfairness market competition set by giant online retailers, such as Amazon and Walmart. Since the MFA does not require any business to collect taxes if its retail transaction is lower than $1 million, one assumes that small businesses are being protected and benefited. However, that does not necessary be the case. With close examination, we might find that this proposed internet sales tax could potentially hurt...
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...Introduction The first Wal-Mart was opened in Rogers, Arkansas, in 1962. By 1969 it was incorporated into Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., and in 1972 went public on the New York Stock Exchange. The company grew steadily across the United States, and by 1990 was the nation's largest retailer. In 1991 and 1994, Wal-Mart moved into Mexico and Canada respectively. By 1997 it was incorporated into the Dow Jones Industrial Average. As of 2005, Wal-Mart has stores in the United Kingdom, and Puerto Rico, and brings in revenue of close to 300 billion dollars a year. In 2006, Wal-Mart invaded the China and India's markets. During the last two decades, Wal-Mart has been able to take advantage of the rise of information technology and the explosion of the global economy to change the balance of power in the business world (Wikipedia, 2006). Today Wal-Mart continues to grow and their success is not only from their sound strategic management planning but also from its implementation of those strategic plans. In other words operational planning has been an important key to their success. 2-Wal-Mart Strategy Once plans have been developed, an organization must address how management will be accomplishing be those plans. This involves operational plans that must flow from strategy; specify resource, time issues, and commitment of human resources. Operational plans at the lower - levels of the organization, have a shorter time horizon, and are narrower in scope (Bateman, Snell 2003 p.113). A good example...
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...money so they can live better" (Walmart, 2012), has proven to be the culture of the company that began from a single store to an empire. Today, Walmart operates more than 10,000 retail units under 69 different banners in 27 countries. Walmart employs more than 2 million associates who serve 200 million customers and members every week (Walmart, 2012). Walmart’s strengths lie in their high technological information systems monitoring worldwide product activity at a single glance, they manufacture they own branded goods as well as supply goods from local suppliers and other major brands not to mention their buying power. The weaknesses of Walmart include having control of such a huge organization and being responsible for and managing a great number of employees. Having pressure from suppliers with regard to price and their ability to supply when required. Becuase of the low prices customers often question and are concerned at the quality of the goods.This is offset to some extent by the satisfaction guarantees offered. The opportunities for Walmart include worldwide expansion, creating Walmart convenient stores and home delivery of goods purchased via internet to rural customers. Threats to Walmart include opposition from local competing vendors in communities. Being successful, they are open to attack on any ethical stance - low pay and poor work conditions, supply of goods from 'poor' cheap labour countries, and environmental issues. Walmart understands that their stakeholders...
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...Internal Environment Walmart: 1.Company Profile : * History : Walmart is a well known American company that operates retail stores including grocery stores, discount stores,wearhouse , clubs and combination of general merchandise store. It was founded in 1962 by Sam Walton along with his brother Bud in Rogers Arkansas. At the beginning he opened more stores in Arkansas but later he expanded walmart to Oklahoma and Missouri in 1968. In 1972 the company listed in the Newyork Stock Exchange. Walton group also introduced the Sam's Club Warehous store in Iowa ,Nibrasca ,Indianna in 1983. During 1980's the company rises considerably by reaching 25.8 billion dollars sales with almost 1,525 stores and 271,000 workers at the end of the decade. In 1990's walmart considered as a largest retailer of the nation and it continued the acheivement by opening more stores within an outside country. The company entered in Japan by buying 36% stake of Seiyu in 2002 and Walmart increased its stake about 67% in 2007.According to the fiscal year sale of Walmart is about 469.2 Billion in 2013 with 2.2 million workers worldwide and 11 thousand stores under 69 banners in 27 countries. * Scale of Operation: The strong market position is the main strength of Walmart with more then 400 billion dollars revenue and almost 11 thousand stores worldwide and consumer trust that differentiate walmart from its competitors. Walmart can also acheive higher profit because of its huge size and it has a strong...
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...------------------------------------------------- like you:…………………………………………. Date:……………………… | 1. Walmart’s focus on supply chain management is responsible for its leadership in the retail industry. Discuss the distribution and logistics practices adopted by Walmart. How far has Walmart’s supply chain contributed to its competitive advantage? Explain. The retail biggest giant, retail supermarket chain “Walmart” serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 10,130 retail units under 69 different banners in 27 countries. With fiscal year 2012 sales of $443 billion, Walmart employs 2.2 million associates worldwide. And the organization is one of the fortune 500 companies. Walmart Stores, Inc., is the world’s largest public corporation by revenue and the largest private employer in the world (about 2.1 million employees in 2008). In 2008, the company operated about 4,000 stores in the United States (discount, supercenters, neighborhood markets, and Sam’s Clubs) as well as more than 2,200 stores in other countries, mostly in Mexico, Canada, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. Its revenue exceeded $400 billion, with net income of about $15 billion. Sam Walton said it best, “If we work together, we’ll lower the cost of living for everyone…we’ll give the world an opportunity to see what it’s like to save and have a better life. During the initial years, Walton focused on establishing new stores in small towns, with an average population...
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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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...had, the minimum wage would be $10.74 per hour. In other words, the minimum wage is a far cry from being a living wage which is a wage that is high enough for fulltime workers to provide a decent life for themselves and their families. For the benefit of American citizens and the economy, the minimum wage must be increased! Those opposed to an increase in the minimum wage focus on a number of assumptions suggesting it would be a bad idea. Under close examination, all of their arguments fall apart. One of the main arguments for not raising the minimum wage is that it is a job killer. The reasoning is the increase in salary decreases profits and results in cutbacks in hiring. However, a study at the University of California, Berkeley, has shown that raising the minimum wage does not have a negative effect on employment. An analysis of those states that independently increased the minimum wage “had job growth slightly above the national average.” Another study from the Economic Policy Institute found that raising the minimum wage actually contributes to moderate job growth because of increased consumer spending by the low income workers. The pay raises are spent putting money right back into the economy. In 1998, the state of Washington voted to raise the minimum wage and...
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...Gallanty “Is Wal-mart good for America?” The Twenty-First century is about: low prices, convenience and quality when it comes to shopping. The “great” American superstore, Wal-mart has just about everything under the sun. From tires, groceries, hunting gear and electronics it is almost a guarantee you will find what you need while roaming any of their Eleven Thousand and counting, establishments. As Americans differ in economic standing, some see Wal-mart as the best way to keep afloat, yet on the other hand some beg to differ. There are some obvious cons and pros to this establishment, but PBS’s documentary surfaced some concerning facts that may change the mind of some and further validate their opinions. “Save money. Live Better. Walmart.” The current slogan Wal-mart has stuck to for the past seven years or so. Wal-mart generates the most revenue out of every company in the United States with Exxon Mobil in second. In the United States alone, Wal-mart employs 1.3 million people and over Two million worldwide. The great American superstore is a grocery market, auto shop, mall and electronic supplier all in one. When you come to Wal-mart you can expect: thousands of products, hundreds of people and the lowest prices around. Wal-mart has one business plan and executes is beautifully as one can see due to the fact they are America’s highest revenue generating company. Their business plan is better known as “push and pull”. Push and pull refers to the “pull” or want of a product...
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...Walmart Strategic Analysis of Wal-Mart Fan Yang Professor Richard Linowes MGMT-458-002H May 1, 2009 Yang 2 Executive Summary Wal-Mart is the biggest retailer in U.S. and also one of the biggest multinational companies in the world. It is well-known for its low-cost structure and has been doing very well despite of the current market instability. However, it still faces threats from competitors in the retail industry and has weaknesses to be improved in the future. To help Wal-Mart achieve greater success and sustain its competency, this paper will cover an all-rounded and detailed business analysis on Wal-Mart and the industry it is currently in. The analysis will touch on different perspectives, such as Wal-Mart’s strength, opportunities, weaknesses and threats. Moreover, a brief overview of the retail industry and Wal-Mart’s history are provided to facilitate a deeper and better understanding of the analysis on Wal-Mart. To help Wal-Mart better exploit its strength and opportunities and reduce threats and weaknesses, recommendations are provided for each of the four sections. I hope the recommendations will be carefully considered for proper implementation. Yang 3 Overview of Retail Industry The overall retail industry is currently experiencing a sale slowdown due to the widely spread economic crisis in US because consumers reduce their spending during weak economic time. According to an article on BusinessWeek, the real consumer spending declined by 3.7% in the...
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...leaders who think outside the box. Physical resources would be the tangible things to conduct business (p8). Natural resources, parts, facilities, and equipment would be some examples. Informational resources would be the data used to conduct business. This is a new concept which was brought by the technology boom. These resources can help us in forecasting costs and predict market trends. Some businesses are designing solely on the data mining service. Is one factor more important than the other? If so which one? Why? This is a very tricky question. For my answer, I am basing my opinion on the United States economy. It does differ based on the country chosen. If I picked China, I would say their economy has a heavy importance on the labor factor. Their huge population and cheap labor causes companies from around the world to outsource their production to China. Until recently, China has also had government restrictions which hurt entrepreneurships and business startups. But back to my answer, you should view the factors of production like a chain. Each factor would be a link and if one failed, the whole thing fails. You are always going to need the vision, capital, natural...
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