Fundamental management

Paper Outline
Geographic design
Functional design
Customer-based design
Product design
Service design
Hybrid design
Matrix design
Marketing channels
Wal-Mart organizational structure

Question 1:
Explain how organizational design such as geographic, functional, customer-based, product, service, hybrid, matrix, marketing channels, and departmentalization determine which structure best suits your selected organization’s needs.
Wal-Mart has a Hybrid design because it has integrated all the designs.
Geographic design
Wal-Mart is one of the world’s largest retailers with stores in the US and other parts of the world. It is one of the largest employer in the world through its numerous outlets in the United States and other nations. The history of Wal-Mart dates back to the early 1960s when the discount retail industry was emerging. In 1962, Sam Walton risked all his property to secure finances to establish a new venture in the discounts retail industry. In the same year, three other discounts retail stores commenced their operations. These stores included Kmart, Target, and F.W. Woolworth (Wal-Mart, 2012).
Functional design
The store offers products including clothes, groceries, car accessories, and cell phone services. The organization has diversified its operations to sell almost everything that can be offered. The store is regarded as a one-stop-shop. The shop mostly offers discount on all products, and this has been the cutting edge to remain competitive and attract more customers who help to keep the sales of the company on an upward trend. Wal-Mart’s organizational structure has been well diversified and this has led to its success over the years when compared to its competitors (Wal-Mart, 2012).
Customer-based design
Wal-Mart operates in the discount retailing industry within the United States. The discount retailing