...1) The report provides a good picture about the symbolic meaning of Wal-Mart to the consumer and serves as a good measuring stick to certify that the Company’s core brand associations (low prices, rural America, patriotism, etc.) are still in place. Additionally, it does a good job in understanding the relationship between Wal-Mart and the three customer segments: from depicting the psychological profile of the customers (dreams, aspirations, concerns, shopping patterns, etc.) to explaining what role Wal-Mart plays in their lives. Despite providing a thorough analysis on the consumer segments and their interaction with Wal-Mart, it fails to provide a solid case on how should Wal-Mart address the challenges it faces in trying to address new customers and new categories in a congruent manner. In terms of methodology, the research is not exhaustive enough. 24 In-home Friends and Family Groups, 80 Workbooks and 20 In-home 1:1 Interviews and Store visits are not conclusive enough for a Company that has 138 million weekly customers. Having to resort to the same quote from a Price Sensitive Affluent for different purposes on pages 17 and 26 – “We all went to college and struggled […]” is very poor. Furthermore, the markets in which the research was conducted are not representative enough of the rural America that Wal-Mart serves. The absence of quantitative analysis (or even quotes) in the research to backup conclusions undermines the credibility of some statements, such as...
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...3035036503 Case study of Wal-Mart Introduction In this essay, the case of Wal-Mart will be discussed by applying the Milton Friedman’s argument on CSR and utilitarianism. 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. The essay will try to argue the problems of Wal-Mart dominating the world in the retail business to create great profit by giving low wages to the employee according to Milton Friedman and utilitarianism. Also, it will discuss how the plans announced by Wal-Mart deal with the global responsibility. Moreover, how should government involve in this situation. Problem: Low-wages for the Employee 1. Milton Friedman According to Milton Friedman, an American economist and philosopher, the most important social responsibility of a corporation is to maximize profit for its owner- stockholder (Friedman, 1970). He suggested that if a corporation put the focus on being socially responsible, it would make the corporation less competitive with those competitors who did not put much focus on social responsibility. For the act of Wal-Mart to provide only low wages and...
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...participate. Corporations that operate within the boundaries of a community, referred to as a Corporate Social Responsibility, or CSR. The decisions that a company makes ultimately has an effect on the community and society as a whole; defining the term ‘Corporate Social Responsibility,’ (CSR). As Basil (2009) noted, “Corporations are increasingly being held responsible for the social impact of their organizational priorities,” (p. 387). Furthermore, as Revathy (2012) indicates: “As a part of society, it is in business’ interest to contribute to addressing common problems. Strategically speaking, business can only flourish when the communities and ecosystems in which they operate are healthy,” (Para. 1). With this type of focus on how a company acts on a social level, leadership at larger companies is taking notice and making CSR part of the strategic vision. “Company support for employee volunteerism, (CSEV) benefits companies, employees, and society while helping companies meet the expectations of corporate social responsibility,” (Basil, 2009, p. 387). Several companies can show their effort in different ways and with different programs. Three companies in our community of Tucson, who have chosen to be a part of corporate social responsibility efforts is Intuit, Wal-Mart, and Citi Group. Businesses must maintain a good relationship with the community in which they operate. Intuit, Inc. operates a major call center in the Tucson community. Part of Intuit’s corporate strategy...
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...resource strategy and productivity at Wal-Mart’ Course: MGT 489 # 7, Fall 2015 Submitted To Dr. Muslima Zahan Assistant Professor Submitted By |Name |Student ID | |MD. Zahid Hossen |111 0104 030 | |Mehedi Hasan |121 0212 030 | |Mohammed Irfan |121 0823 030 | |Nujhat Nakiba Khushbu |123 0279 030 | School of Business and Economics North South University Date of Submission: 13/10/2015 Letter of Transmittal October 13th, 2015 Dr. Muslima Zahan Assistant Professor Strategic Management (MGT 489) School of Business North South University Subject: Submission of the case analysis on “Human resource strategy and productivity at Wal-Mart” Madam, We would like to thank you for assigning us with this course-work for the course of strategic management. This case study has given us the opportunity to combine our theoretical knowledge with a practical...
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...Integrating Values-The Legality, Morality, and Social Responsibility of Wal-Mart’s Response to Sex Discrimination and Pay Lawsuits Nova Southeastern University MGT5015_Legal, Ethical, Social Value Business September 9, 2012 We certify that we are the author of this paper and that any assistance received in its preparation is fully acknowledged and disclosed in the paper. We have also cited any sources from which were used data, ideas of words, whether quoted or paraphrased. I also certify that this paper was prepared by us specifically for this course. Table of Contents Abstract (Natalie Rondon) 3 Introduction ( Natalie Rondon) 4 Legal Section (Franciso Amado) 5 Ethic Section Utilitarian Ethical Analysis (Kyle Lozito) 8 Kantian Ethical Analysis (Christian Varillas) 14 Additional Ethical Analysis (Natalie Rondon). 18 Social Responsibility Section (Shirley Simmonds). 20 Conclusion (Natalie Rondon). 25 References. 26 Abstract This is a library research paper on the integrating values of Wal-Marts to sex discrimination and pay lawsuits that Wal-Mart has encountered over the years. The paper will discuss the legality of the situation and how Wal-Mart might be able to fix the issues that they are having. The paper will also discuss Utilitarian ethical analysis, Kantian ethical analysis and Socrates and the Socratic method. It will go into detail if Wal-Mart as a company has acted ethical or moral against its employees based on the ethical analysis...
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...INB400 – International Organization and Management Term paper Wal-Mart’s culturally and institutionally flawed entry into the German retail market Joakim Holsten Leren s105710 Julianne Øien s106222 Mirko Wichmann s145433 Lara-Caterina Buggert s145400 Eloise De Bont s145611 22 pages Table of Contents Introduction 2 Case presentation 2 The Wal-Mart concept 3 Institutional challenges [to be deleted] 4 Cultural challenges [to be deleted] 4 German market 5 Theoretical Background 5 The cultural perspective 6 The institutional perspective 9 Case Analysis 12 The cultural perspective 12 The institutional perspective 15 Recommendations 19 Cultural 19 Institutional 20 Limitations 22 Cultural 22 Institutional 22 Conclusion 23 References: 25 Introduction The purpose of this paper is to address and analyze the challenges Wal-Mart faced during its entrance into the German market in the late 1990s. We have analyzed this with the following problem in mind: “Which aspects, both cultural and institutional, led to Wal-Mart’s failure in Germany and what should they have done instead?” We will approach this problem by outlining theoretical frameworks for analyzing cultural and institutional aspects of a company. We will then employ said theories in order to analyze the case of Wal-Mart’s failure in Germany. Finally, we will come to a conclusion concerning what they should have done as they entered into the German market. ...
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...1.0 Introduction Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. began in the year of 1962 and its founder is Sam Walton. Till now, Wal-Mart is so successful because its founder, Walton emphasized on the customer satisfaction and hard work. This creates a value on Wal-Mart. It is indeed popular in American business of its low prices and it is one of the world’s largest public corporations. Hence, it has to be more careful while handling the relationships between different stakeholders. Wal-Mart is reported to be able saving the average family of $3200 annually. However, the company has received many critics on the issues of its treatment towards its employees, suppliers and economic impacts on communities. Many stand out to say that Wal-Mart is engaged in immoral issues in order to provide low prices. This case attempts to show us about the controversy of both the positive and negative impacts on the society due to Wal-Mart’s low pricing. It involves various stakeholders here in the case, such as competitors, suppliers, and employees. In addition, some ethical issues such as the discrimination, illegal immigration issues, and leadership misconduct are brought out to discuss. 2.0 Wal-Mart’s Stakeholders relationship 2.1 Competitors Stakeholders Problem: Wal-Mart used predatory pricing which causes other companies out of business. This is because they work on volume. They can give greater discount than any other competitors can afford and yet still make a profit. There is lawsuit in Germany in...
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...Wal-Mart: The Challenges of Dominance There are few companies that have become household names all across the Americas and many parts of the globe. One such company is Wal-Mart. Since its’ birth in 1962, there have been over 4,700 company locations opened, employing over 1.4 million people in the continental United States alone. (WALMART STORES.COM 2011) Wal-Mart was founded by Sam and Bud Walton as a department-sized store targeting small rural towns throughout the Midwest. It has immersed itself in a rapid amount of growth and success over the first few years by offering among the best levels of customer service, as well as “Every Day Low Prices.” After several decades of extreme growth, Wal-Mart began to finally shift its focus from targeting rural areas to that of urban areas all across the United States with its adaptation of the larger supersized centers that could offer a wide array of products and services. A great example to show its rapid movement would be to compare its growth to that of several of its’ competitors. It was founded the same year as corporate moguls Target and Kmart, and in 2011 it grossed revenues of more than four times that of both of these companies combined. (WALMART 2011) Retailing is the second largest industry in the U.S. and one of the most sizable in the world, and Wal-Mart is larger than the next four global giants combined. Wal-Mart’s capabilities in the Retail link-system, as well as its innovations in developing the hub...
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...Write a 3-4 page paper in which you: 1.Describe the role of business in the economy. 2.Compare and contrast the roles of for-profit and nonprofit organizations in the economy. 3.Discuss the impact of current fiscal and monetary policy on the economy. 4. Select a product or service with which you are familiar and outline a strategy for accessing global markets. 5.Select an organization with which you are familiar and discuss the impact of that organization ’s level of social responsibility on a stakeholder group of your choice. My assignment must: •Be typed, double-spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions. The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are: •Distinguish between the major forms of business ownership and compare the advantages and disadvantages of each. •Define entrepreneurship and the nature and importance in the U.S. economy of small businesses. •Describe the basic accounting process and the financial statements used in business. •Explain the role of financial management, human resource management, and information management in a business. •Identify the basic components of the marketing process (product, promotion, pricing, and distribution). •Use technology and information resources to research issues in business. •Write clearly and concisely about business issues using proper writing...
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...! ! ! !!!!!!!!!!! ! ! Did Wal-Mart Wake Up? How Strategic Management Handled Wal-Mart’s Reputation [ABSTRACT] The nation’s largest private corporation and retail giant Wal-Mart has faced multiple opposition from labor unions, grassroots organizations, religious groups, and even from its own employees, impacting its corporate reputation and ultimately its bottom line. This case study will demonstrate the strategic communication Wal-Mart used for its corporate reputation management (CRM). In particular, the case describes the company’s response to criticism regarding its current business policies and practices. Table of Contents Introduction………………………………………………………………3 1. Company History……………………………………………………..5 1.1 Wal-Mart’s Early History: 1960s to 1970s…………………………….5 1.2 Wal-Mart Expands and Goes International: 1980s to 1990s…………...6 1.3 Attack of the Advocacy Groups: 2000 to present……………………....7 1.4 Repercussions…………………………………………………………...8 2. The Issue: Employee Relations and Workers’ Rights…………………9 3. Opposition…………………………………………………………….10 3.1 Labor Union-Funded Groups…………………………………………...11 3.2 Gender Discrimination………………………………………………….12 3.3 Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price……………………………………..13 4. Wal-Mart’s Response……………………………………………………15 4.1 Response to Labor Union-Backer Groups………………………………...16 4.2 Response to Gender Discrimination Lawsuit……………………………..17 4.3 Response to Greenwald’s Film……………………………………………18 4.4 Wal-Marting Across America: Jim and Laura’s...
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...! ! ! !!!!!!!!!!! ! ! Did Wal-Mart Wake Up? How Strategic Management Handled Wal-Mart’s Reputation [ABSTRACT] The nation’s largest private corporation and retail giant Wal-Mart has faced multiple opposition from labor unions, grassroots organizations, religious groups, and even from its own employees, impacting its corporate reputation and ultimately its bottom line. This case study will demonstrate the strategic communication Wal-Mart used for its corporate reputation management (CRM). In particular, the case describes the company’s response to criticism regarding its current business policies and practices. Table of Contents Introduction………………………………………………………………3 1. Company History……………………………………………………..5 1.1 Wal-Mart’s Early History: 1960s to 1970s…………………………….5 1.2 Wal-Mart Expands and Goes International: 1980s to 1990s…………...6 1.3 Attack of the Advocacy Groups: 2000 to present……………………....7 1.4 Repercussions…………………………………………………………...8 2. The Issue: Employee Relations and Workers’ Rights…………………9 3. Opposition…………………………………………………………….10 3.1 Labor Union-Funded Groups…………………………………………...11 3.2 Gender Discrimination………………………………………………….12 3.3 Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price……………………………………..13 4. Wal-Mart’s Response……………………………………………………15 4.1 Response to Labor Union-Backer Groups………………………………...16 4.2 Response to Gender Discrimination Lawsuit……………………………..17 4.3 Response to Greenwald’s Film……………………………………………18 4.4 Wal-Marting Across America: Jim and Laura’s...
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...! ! ! !!!!!!!!!!! ! ! Did Wal-Mart Wake Up? How Strategic Management Handled Wal-Mart’s Reputation [ABSTRACT] The nation’s largest private corporation and retail giant Wal-Mart has faced multiple opposition from labor unions, grassroots organizations, religious groups, and even from its own employees, impacting its corporate reputation and ultimately its bottom line. This case study will demonstrate the strategic communication Wal-Mart used for its corporate reputation management (CRM). In particular, the case describes the company’s response to criticism regarding its current business policies and practices. Table of Contents Introduction………………………………………………………………3 1. Company History……………………………………………………..5 1.1 Wal-Mart’s Early History: 1960s to 1970s…………………………….5 1.2 Wal-Mart Expands and Goes International: 1980s to 1990s…………...6 1.3 Attack of the Advocacy Groups: 2000 to present……………………....7 1.4 Repercussions…………………………………………………………...8 2. The Issue: Employee Relations and Workers’ Rights…………………9 3. Opposition…………………………………………………………….10 3.1 Labor Union-Funded Groups…………………………………………...11 3.2 Gender Discrimination………………………………………………….12 3.3 Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price……………………………………..13 4. Wal-Mart’s Response……………………………………………………15 4.1 Response to Labor Union-Backer Groups………………………………...16 4.2 Response to Gender Discrimination Lawsuit……………………………..17 4.3 Response to Greenwald’s Film……………………………………………18 4.4 Wal-Marting Across America: Jim and Laura’s...
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...completely borderless. (Steger, 2009) The globalization of food retail super market industry has developed extensively in the supply chain retailing. It has made a greater impact on the public consumer market. The globalization has forced the local food retailers to think beyond retailing in the domestic markets for sustainable growth and presence. The global food retailing industry is a complex collection of diversified supermarket chains, independent food stores, and direct-to-consumer services that supply much of the food consumed today. The successful food retailers usually follow two strategic formats which are as follows: * Discount Outlets These kind of global food retailers work in same format in all the divisions regardless of what country they are operating in. They also keep the same products for retailing. This system usually follows adopting the same distribution channels and maintaining centralized distribution centres. The prime examples of this format of global food retailers are Lidals and Aldi. * Hypermarkets In this...
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...GUIDE P. 487 P. 491 P. 492 P. 492 P. 493 P. 496 P. 497 P. 501 Defined Content standards Materials Procedure Lesson outline Closure Assessment Overheads VISUAlS N Visuals for overhead projector. Copy to transparent paper for overhead. P. 502 NVisual-1: Market defined P. 503 NVisual-2: Business defined lESSonS 2 Copy and handout to students. P. 506 P. 513 P. 518 P. 522 2Lesson-I: I, Pencil 2Lesson-II: Specializing in production 2Lesson-III: Wal-Mart 2Lesson assessment the role of business in the econoMy Markets and coMMerce Module-16 Teacher DEFInED A market is a social arrangement that allows buyers and sellers to discover information and complete voluntary exchanges of goods and services. commerce consists of trading something of economic value such as a good, service, information, or money between two entities. business is the management and coordination of people and resources to accomplish particular production goals, usually for the purpose of making profit. business, commerce, and markets create many benefits for consumers, and as a result of business, commerce, and markets in the economy, consumers experience an increased standard of living. businesses obtain resources such as labor and equipment, and businesses specialize in the production of particular goods and services. As a result of business in the economy, the variety, quality, and quantity of goods and services available to consumers increases, while...
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...financial analysis project CONTENTS INTRODUCTION4 VISION STATEMENT5 MISSION and OBJECTIVES5 COMPANY SUMMARY6 OWNERSHIP6 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE7 HISTORY OF WAL-MART8 INDUSTRY ANALYSIS9 MARKETING ANALYSIS10 MARKET SEGMENT11 MARKET SHARE13 DOMESTIC COMPETITORS14 INTERNATIONAL COMPETITORS15 CURRENT PRODUCTS16 PRODUCTS16 BCG MATRIX17 STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION SUMMARY19 COMPETITIVE EDGE20 MARKETING AND SALES STRATEGY21 COST STRATEGY21 CAPITAL STRUCTURE STRATEGY21 FINANCIAL ANALYSIS22 GENERAL OVERVIEW22 OPERATING EXPENSES AND NET SALES22 OPERATING INCOME23 FREE CASH FLOW23 ACCOUNTING ASSUMPTIONS AND METHODS23 INVENTORIES23 DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION24 GENERAL STRENGHTS24 ACCOUNTING ASSUMPTION AND METHODS25 EVOLUTION AND CAUSE FOR THE CHANGES26 KEY FINANCIAL RATIOS27 LIQUIDITY RATIOS28 PROFITABILITY RATIOS28 DEBT RATIOS29 OPERATING PERFORMANCE RATIOS30 ANALYSYS OF RISK31 FX AND INTEREST RISK32 SOLVENCY RISK33 COMPETITORS ANALYSIS34 SWOT ANALYSIS37 RECOMMENDATIONS38 BIBLIOGRAPHY39 INTRODUCTION Walmart Stores, Inc. (WMT) is an American public corporation that runs a chain of large discount department stores and a chain of warehouse stores. Walmart operates more than 8,692 retail units across three business segments of retail stores worldwide that offer a wide array of general merchandise including groceries, apparel, electronics, and small appliances. In addition, the company is the world's largest retailer and grocery chain...
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