...effective supply chain model. This report primarily discusses the issues that Wal-Mart is facing in establishing and maintaining a sustainable supply chain. The report outlines the company's origin and its progress in the years, followed by describing the issue it is faces. The issue described is related to Wal-Mart's failure to develop a Green sustainable process and the effects it has on the environment. 2.0 Company Background - Wal-Mart The idea of retail business grew very popular in the United States in the early 1950's, and Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart was convinced that people wanted more than just retail showrooms. Hence he opened his own retail store providing large discounts (Reuters, 2013). Over the years he spread his business across the United States and set up his first Wal-Mart store in 1962. In the next five years he opened 24 more stores and in 1969 Wal-Mart established itself as an incorporated company under the official name, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (Wal-Mart Corporate, 2013). Phenomenal transformation of national retail business into global retail chains were witnessed in the two decades of 1980's and 1990's. In 1983 Sam's Club was established and was ranked in the top retail chains by the Forbes, a magazine. In 1989, the first Super centre of Wal-Mart was inaugurated. Later it became a conventional shop in several countries all over the world. In the early 1900's Wal-Mart operated over 1400 stores and 123 Sam's Clubs which earned revenue of over $26...
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...A Case Study of Wal-Mart’s “Green” Supply Chain Management Adam Heying Whitney Sanzero MGT 520 Operations Management Professor Jim Constand May 4, 2009 Summary Supply chain management has been the cornerstone to Wal-Mart’s success and remains their primary competitive advantage in the retail/department store industry. Their distribution system is generally regarded as the most efficient and they have an approach to supply chain management that has long emphasized visibility through the sharing of information with their suppliers. Although there are hundreds of logistical functions which allow Wal-Mart to be the price and logistics leader, the focus will be primarily on the company’s newly adopted strategy of making logistical processes “green” and more environmentally conscious. According to the Supply Chain Management Review, Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott committed the company to three ambitious goals: to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy; to create zero waste; and to sell products that sustain Wal-Mart’s resources and the environment. Wal-Mart’s 14 Sustainable Value Networks, the Network’s structure, new “green” logistics technologies, and additional future initiatives will be considered along with counter arguments which suggest that Wal-Mart’s green initiative is simply unsustainable. The main sticking point seems to be the same one that has long held back the adoption of better light bulbs...
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...Tran, Charles Jones, Donald Dryer, Carolina Franco MGT/230 August 21, 2013 Professor Chris Pahl Internal and External Factors The internal and external fact of functions affects management every day. It is the performance that an organization or company within itself could turn out positive or negative. This also pertains to the outside world, where the factors can be beyond the control of the organization in positive or negative situations. The concepts in management implements the four functions needed for the core requirement in management. Planning is the foundation base which all others areas are built. There may be sudden strategies required to be implemented during a crisis. Depending on the conditions, a company may have to alter its course of action regarding certain goals. Organizing is the second function of management that is affected if resources beforehand are not organized. Leading or directing is the third function affected in management, it helps control and supervise the actions of the staff. The leading managers whether positive or negative the internal and external outcome, have to be sensitive and inspirational on a personal basis. Controlling is the last of the functions performance that is affected by the factors. Control is also dynamic in nature as the management can anticipate future problems. When it comes to globalization, internal and external factor affects various segments of a business, company branding, employee capabilities, and consumer...
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...1. What do you think of Walmart’s green initiatives? Will it ever be able to achieve the reputation of being environmentally friendly? Discuss. Wal-Mart prosecutes green initiatives is striving to transform itself into a company that’s seen as environmentally friendly. Wal-Mart’s green initiatives consist of completion of the purpose, enhancing the visibility of the brand, and getting more investments. Wal-Mart’s green initiatives are to complete the purpose of the company. Wal-Mart main purpose is to protect the environment. Wal-Mart’s green initiatives could improve marketing by catching the attentions from green-minded customers. This could lead to the increasing in profit for Wal-Mart’s company. Besides that, Wal-Mart’s green initiatives may create new business market all over the world as nowadays many of the suppliers are not focusing on produce products that are environmentally friendly but benefits that they will get soon. Apart from that, Wal-Mart’s green initiatives may enhance connections. This is in light of the fact that the products would give benefits to the customers and then become popular product among the other products and soon will lead to enhance connections. On the other hand, Wal-Mart’s green initiatives may enhance the visibility of the brand owing to the product is giving many benefits to the customers and this will lead to get more attentions from either customers or suppliers and soon image will also involuntary enhance. Therefore, the company will...
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...following case will analyze the Wal-Mart China’s Sustainability efforts. Wal-Mart China is in the begging stages of becoming sustainable, in an ecological sense, and faces some key issues. First the case will provide background information on Wal-Mart Global and Wal-Mart China to ensure the reader is aware of the circumstances. Then the case will analyze Wal-Mart China based on the 4Rs, recycling, resource, regulations, and reputation, described in Operations Management by Heizer, and how their efforts correlate with them. The case will then address key issues, such as questionable logistics practices, and price sensitive customers, and weary stakeholders. Background Information Wal-Mart Global Sam Walton “our customers are the reason we’re in business, so we should treat them that way. We offer quality merchandise at the lowest prices, and we do it with the best customer service possible. We look for every opportunity where we can exceed our customers’ expectations. That’s when we’re at our very best” (2011, Wal-Mart Culture). Sam Walton opened his doors in 1962, Arkansas, with the promise of offering the highest quality merchandise for the lowest prices while maintaining the best customer service. The company then sprinted to the top becoming a Fortune 500 and one of the largest retail companies in only four decades. Wal-Mart soon took on public scrutiny for being too powerful and with that came the realization of how much power Wal-Mart used. It was in 2005 when CEO...
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...November 9, 2009 Thomas Johnson University of Phoenix Internal and External Factors When Wal-Mart first opened in 1962 the store was not the retail giant that it has grown to be in the past few years. Today Wal-Mart serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 8,159 retail units. Wal-Mart employs over 2.1 million associates worldwide and had sales of $401 billion during the 2009 fiscal year (Wal-Mart, 2009). Based on the annual sales and new locations constructed annually, the Wal-Mart management team must be doing something more than just clever marketing. Wal-Mart is an interest topic among management students because although it is a relatively young company it has already achieved tremendous success. Furthermore, the company boasts a desirable corporate culture where everyone is treated as family. The readers can’t help but think that this company is an advocate of diversity and encourages decision making among employees. This essay evaluates internal and external factors and how they affect the four functions of management. By exploring these topics, the readers will be able to see how the organization handles its operation and how it deals with its staffs. One of the biggest impacts on management in Wal-Mart would have to be planning and organizing on how they will price all their items in the store. Wal-Mart has to look at all their competitor’s prices and see how they can be more affordable. Not only do they...
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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 world largest and most successful corporation, also has the unflattering reputation of being so uncaring that it now symbolizes corporate social irresponsibility in the eyes of many Americans. How did the most powerful company become admired as well as feared and despised? Using the company's marketing strategy as a basis for analysis, the current study argues that Wal-Mart's problems with its own employees are not just perceptual but fundamentally due to the company's targeting and positioning choice: the delivery of always low prices to customers has meant that such stakeholder groups as employees have had to be squeezed. In 1962, Sam Walton created Wal-Mart, a “superstore” geared toward giving the customer a superior experience mixed with the best prices around. Walton used his years in the logistics management in the United States military to find the best prices, standardize and streamlined supply chain management and pioneer his one-stop-shop. Soon his superstore that is headquartered in Arkansas was also located in countries such as China, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Japan and Chile. Wal-Mart’s mission is to provide customers with quality products at affordable prices. The company strives to provide satisfactory customer service and excellence in all it takes part in. Corporate Social Responsibility Issues for the Retail Industry The retail industry in United States is considered to be most evolved and headed by companies such as Wal-Mart, Home...
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...Wal-Mart – A Model of Success Through Effective Management Many start-up business venture fail early the process of establishment; however, some do make it through the early years and go on to become models of success. Most of the companies struggle or fail because of a lack of focus in the functional areas of management as well as their inability to adapt to internal and external factors that they cannot control. The Beginning Wal-Mart, one the largest retailer in the world, began in 1992 as a small company in Rogers, Arkansas, it has grown to more than 8000 stores operating under 69 different names in 27 countries ("History Timeline," 2012). The company’s success comes as a result of their management model and their ability to take advantage of factors such as strategic globalization, every-changing technology, innovative thinking, cultural diversity, and ethical qualities. Going global. Wal-Mart “employs 2.2 million associates worldwide and serves 200 million customers each week” ("History Timeline,” 2012). In 1991 Wal-Mart made the decision to go global with the opening of a Sam’s Club Store in Mexico City ("History Timeline," 2012). To overcome possible language barriers and to adapt to local cultures, in some countries the company hires its general managers from the local areas. The company’s size and revenue makes it a major contributor to the world economy. Had Wal-Mart decided to only establish stores within the certain states or within only the United...
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...Wal-Mart Case Study Dr. Tonya D. Moore MNGT 5650 November 24, 2013 Introduction Wal-Mart can be defined as Goliath in the biblical story of David and Goliath (only he doesn’t fall), the “strategic Corporal,” a self-licking ice-cream cone, the industry benchmark, labor exploiter, cost cutting surgeons with chain-saws, and America’s company. Wal-Mart perceptions are across the board and in essence reflect all of our societal issues and problems in one massive company. They survive and thrive on their ability to shape perceptions of their business model to consumers while exploiting their workforce. Goliath was perceived to be too big of a giant to fall or loose in battle until David succeeded. Wal-Mart is perceived that they are too big to fall by their competitors, society, and the country. They are the largest employer in the country, they own massive supply chain networks, and stores in every town across the country. However, in the case of Wal-Mart, there is no David out there to knock them down. Arguably they are no true competitors in their industry. Because of being this perceived giant, Wal-Mart is able to be a bully with vendors, associates, and competitors. Further, because of being a giant everyone is watching them. Threats and Challenges The simple answer of what threats and challenges Wal-Mart currently faces centers around their associates wages and health care. However, why do they face this challenge instead of what they are doing to...
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...1-Wal-Mart history and 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...
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...The Sustainable SCM of Wal-Mart Group Work - Fall 2013 Global Supply Chain Management Common Assumptions • The categories chosen are Seafood and Electronics. • The market considered into the analysis is the U.S. market. • Every change in the supply chain has to be considered in a sustainable and profitable perspective. • The suppliers that are not compliant with Wal-Mart’s directive on sustainability are substituted after a short-medium time. • A Central Warehouse in the U.S. is not considered for both chains, because we assume that a system of cross docking takes care of the incoming goods from the arrival point in the U.S.A. if the good is imported. • We consider in the U.S.A territory five central warehouse that have a direct contact with all the Wall-Mart stores according to their geographical position. Seafood supply chain Electronic supply chain Assumptions The assumptions needed in order to analyze the seafood supply chain for Wal-Mart are the following: Our import market is the USA market and the export is the Thai one. Thailand, in fact, is one of the major exporter of the seafood category that we will consider: salmon. Wal-Mart fishes demand is similar to the American demand composition in terms of the quantity and the quality of the products. In our analysis we will consider as “producers” (first level of the supply chain) only the fishermen and not the fish farmers We considered only pre-frozen fish, that will be sold...
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...brothers decided break away and opened their own store in Rogers, Arkansas which was the start of the first Wal-Mart Discount City store. Their approach was to open stores in populations with 5000 to 25000 people. By the late 1960’s the Walton brothers has 18 discount stores and 15 Ben Franklin franchises which became incorporated in Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Tell me the history of Wal-Mart). During the 1970’s the Walton’s incorporated many changes to how they do business which laid the foundation to cut cost to gain more control. They implemented a warehouse distribution strategy of constructing their own warehouses so they can buy merchandise in great volume, and positioned its stores 200 square miles from each distribution point. By 1977, Forbes had Wal-Mart ranked #1 in return of equity, return on capital, sales growth, and earnings growth over all other discount and variety stores (Tell me the history of Wal-Mart). Wal-Mart’s continued expanding and in 1978, its stores included a pharmacy, auto service center, a shoe department, and a jewelry division. By 1979 Wal-Mart was in 11 states and sales had skyrocket from $44 million in 1970 to $1.25 Billion by 1979 which became the fastest company to reach to $1 Billion. In 1987 Sam expounded on an idea that he got from a French entrepreneur and referred to it as “Hypermart USA”, which later became known as Wal-Mart Supercenter”. Sam introduced a...
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...relationship. The write up will follow up with the EPA and other agencies reactions and discuss the impact and the changes in the logistics management by the companies around the world. SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT Supply Chain Management refers to the flows of processes though which the goods are moved from the customer order to the acquisition of raw materials, supply, production, and distribution of the goods to the relevant customer. It basically refers to the management of the activities for the collections of raw materials to the production at the factories to the distribution of these goods. The manager must coordinate with all of these pieces in a cordial manner for the effective management of the supply chain (Mentzer, 2001). LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT Logistics Management is widely known concept in the global world. All companies rely on the logistics for the efficient flow of the goods and services. For Example: Industrial manufactures rely heavily on these logistics for the transportation of the mass-produced items. At the same time, the consumer goods manufactures want their goods to be delivered to the outlets and warehouses before the customer calls for it. Therefore, Logistics management has now evolved into one of the most important links in the supply chain process (DHL, 2010). Logistics refers to the part of the supply chain management that plans, implements and processes the flow of the goods and services from the source to the end consumer. It includes both thee...
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...products, and bribery and employee theft can happen at any business. Corporations have a social responsibility, an organization obligation to maximize its positive impact on stakeholders and to minimize its negative impact. Background Wal-Mart was founded in the early 1960s’ and today have stores nationwide providing goods and services to millions of consumers. The steps taken by this company in regards to addressing and correcting allegations of unethical issues greatly impacted their reputation and sustainability. The founder of Wal-Mart Sam Walton’s success was attributed to his belief in customer satisfaction and hard work. Associates had to abide by the “ten-foot-rule, look the customer in the eye, greet him or her, and ask if he or she needed help with anything. Over the next 40 years the company grew from a small chain of stores into the largest nongovernment employer in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Today Wal-Mart focuses on keeping cost low to achieve its “everyday low prices”. Findings Unfortunately, Wal-Mart also applied this same philosophy to its employees in the form of low wages, poor benefits, unfair treatment of employees in the workplace, discrimination; using illegal immigrants and sweatshops all to save a buck. Wal-Mart claimed early on that a formal ethics program was unnecessary because it had Mr. Sam’s ethics...
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