...Wal-Mart- A Case Study of MIS Strategy Walden University Wal-Mart – A Case Study of MIS Strategy Management information system is all about people using technology to work with information as they support the organization in its quest for a competitive advantage (Haag & Cummings, 2008, p. 29). Researchers and authors have discussed management information systems and technology over the decades. The concepts of competitive advantage, technology, outsourcing etc. have been theorized, yet discussion on the subject matter continues. While MIS strategy formulation has seen advancement, organizations are evolving and constantly changing their operating models. An example of such organization is Wal-Mart, the global retail giant. This research seeks to pin-point Wal-Mart’s key management information system strategy, while providing a deeper understanding of the organization’s management information systems strategy and its impacts. Further it aims to investigate knowledge management, e-commerce strategy, and the impact of database management which are aspects that can be incorporated into the MIS strategy formulation. To achieve this objective the literature survey was conducted to explore available published papers in the sphere of IS/IT strategy formulation. Considering that the applicability of information systems and technology is mission critical, the research design focused on the qualitative approach. The primary method of data collection was through semi-structured...
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...beyond the United States, in 1991 Wal-Mart expanded operations into Mexico. By joining in a joint venture with Cifra they were able to capture the local look and feel of Mexico and an existing customer base. Shortly after entering they began expanding rapidly into all areas of the country. This was successful by utilizing successful entry modes via localized store concepts. The expansion of the Mexican economy was halted due to the economic downturn in the 2000’s. A recovery that is still slow to gain momentum. Despite this Wal-Mart continues to thrive as a quality resource for inexpensive merchandise. 2. Company Background It is rare for a company to grow so quickly as Wal-Mart has and to reach such a global scale. Starting from humble beginnings Sam Walton had a vision of providing low priced goods accompanied by helpful service. In 1962 Sam Walton split off from the Ben Franklin Co. creating the first Wal-Mart in Rogers, Arkansas. For the next six years Wal-Mart expanded within Arkansas and in 1968 expansion begins in Missouri and Oklahoma. Quickly after this expansion, Wal-Mart becomes a public company which raises capital allowing Sam Walton to buy up local chains around the country, creating the powerhouse it is today. It is important to understand Wal-Marts expansion and saturation of the U.S. market to identify its reasons behind expanding globally. In order to continue its growth and profitability for its shareholders Wal-Mart has entered many markets besides Mexico...
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...Case Study: 6 – Wal-Mart Case Study: Data Communications at Wal-Mart Erin Barraclough Case Study: Data Communications At Wal-Mart • Case Study - Data Communications At WalMart Page 116 1. How has Wal-Mart improved its data communication systems for suppliers? 2. What are some typical data communication applications in Walmart? 3. What are some of the applications of wireless technology in WalMart? 4. What are some of the features and capabilities of VMS? • Due Date Saturday, September 21, 2013 11:59:00 PM CDT (Bidgoli, 2013, p.. Question 1) Wal-Mart has improved its data communication system for its suppliers through various approaches. The main reason for doing so is to, remain the lowest cost retail merchandiser. The first improvement Wal-Mart has done to improve its communication system was adding a customized web site for its suppliers. This customized network has enable suppliers to retrieved, all sales, inventory, and forecasting data through faster connections. To make sure that the confidentiality of data is maintained, Wal-Mart has implemented a security system to ensure that no suppliers can access each other’s data. The second improvement to the data communication system was allowing the suppliers, Web-Based access to Wal-Mart’s Retail Link system to access information in the database. Question 2) Wal-Mart utilizes various data communication system to remain at the top of the retail business. Some typical data communication...
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...Systems7 Definitions of MIS,TPS, DSS, AI8 Walmarts System9 Systems Development10 TBD11 TBD12 Information Systems & Society13 TBD14 TBD15 ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------- Walmart Information Systems Overview Walmart Technology In its relentless pursuit of low consumer prices, Wal-Mart embraced technology to become an innovator in the way stores track inventory and restock their shelves, cutting costs and passing the savings along to customers. In the process the company became synonymous with the concept of successful supply chain management. Wal-Mart isn’t just the largest retailer in the world over the past several years it has popped in and out of the top spot on the fortune 500 list—meaning that the firm has had revenues greater than any firm in the United States. Wal-Mart is so big that in three months it sells more than a whole year’s worth of sales at number two U.S. retailer, Home Depot. At that size, it’s clear that Wal-Mart’s key source of competitive advantage is scale. But firms don’t turn into giants overnight. Wal-Mart grew in large part by leveraging information systems to an extent never before seen in the retail industry. Technology tightly coordinates the Wal-Mart value chain from tip to...
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...Introduction to Information Technology - Organizational Systems Wal-Mart is one of the largest retailers in the world based out of the United States with locations in other countries as well. Running an organization the size of Wal-Mart is a humongous task that requires reliance on heavy duty IT systems. Some of the biggest IT systems Wal-Mart uses include a Transaction Processing System, Management Information System, and Decision Support System. Its Transaction Processing System makes all routine daily tasks automated using raw data as its input. It then summarizes, records, and synchronizes this data. It uses a universal product code to ensure accurate pricing, improve efficiency, reduce shrinkage, and enhance communication amongst different channels. The TPS uses a satellite system and electronic scanning of UPC (uniform product code) at the POS or point of scanning (Fishman, 2006). The Management Information System or MIS uses data collected from the TPS by creating performance and evaluation reports used by middle management. These are usually used to explain, and assess information collected for financial purposes and evaluations. The other major IT system Wal-Mart uses is a DSS or a Decision Support System which is used primarily by executive management. Ever since Wal-Mart started using DSS, its profits and customer satisfaction ratings rose dramatically. Its DSS is also commonly known as a data warehouse, a digital hub where its entire customer related information...
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...Ana Fraile 1. En una tabla, identificar las empresas para las que compró acciones y qué motivó la compra. Se debe presentar argumentos financieros, datos numéricos, gráficas que faciliten entender la compra del instrumento. A. Walmart (WMT): Esta compañía fue mi primera compra con 10 acciones, cual fue la compra de práctica, donde realmente no hubo una razón específica financiera por la que hice la compra. Escogí Wal-Mart porque es una de las tiendas que más vende en Puerto Rico y tenia curiosidad como funcionaria la bolsa de valores. Según la Oficina Económica y comercial de la Embajada de España en San Juan de Puerto Rico, Wal-Mart en el 2010 vendió 920 millones en ventas brutas en Puerto Rico. A pesar de esto no necesariamente los demás Wal-Mart tengan esta suerte. B. Kroger (KR): La razón que compre 5 acciones en esta compañía, fue porque leí una noticia que hablaba sobre el éxito de este supermercado y las nuevas ideas que traían al mercado. Lamentablemente no pude conseguir la noticia pero hablaba de cómo Kroger prometía un aumento en su bolsa de valores y como traer buenos productos a buen precio estaba atrayendo a clientes; específicamente en el área de comida orgánica. Esto fue cierto durante estos tres meses la compañía fue aumentando de valor. Antes de hacer la compra en septiembre observe la grafica de un año y me di cuenta de que era cierto el valor había aumentado en el ultimo año. Para esta época observando la grafica otra vez se puede observar como...
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...Supermercados: Competencia interna Wal-Mart A) Fase de Planeación: Wal-Mart es una corporación multinacional de minoristas que opera cadenas de almacenes de descuento. Su fundador fue Sam Walton el 1962. Es una de las empresas más valiosas del mundo. Las fortalezas más importantes de Wal-Mart se encuentran en su antigüedad y confianza, en que se concentran en tener un buen servicio para sus clientes, y en su mercadotecnia enfocada en que el cliente siempre encuentre lo que busca a precios bajos. A pesar de estas fortalezas, Wal-Mart tiene muchas otras que la ayudan a mantenerse como una potencia en su especie. Tales como: * Se actualiza constantemente * Es original en su mercadotecnia. * Es reconocida internacionalmente. * Uso eficaz de las técnicas logísticas. * Cuentan con becas para estudiantes de escuela superior, ayudan a hospitales de niños auspiciando un tele maratón, y ayuda a organizaciones sin fines de lucro. * Ubicación de las tiendas. * La compañía tiene una regla en el cual cualquier empleado que este a 10 pies de un cliente debe saludarlo y preguntarle en que le puede ayudar. A base de análisis internos y externos logran las estrategias que les permite desarrollar sus tiendas en mercados que se convertirán exitosos en los diferentes mercados que estas pautas determinen. A esto se le añaden estrategias gerenciales que se han probado por la industria y la propia compañía que de por si son la pautas que sus competidores las utilizan...
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...Wal-Mart’s German Misadventure Ce document constitue une synthèse du dossier traitant de la tentative d’implantation en Allemagne du groupe Wal-Mart. Nous y présentons le choix de s’internationaliser, les opportunités ou leur absence sur le marché Allemand, avant de tirer un bilan sur les 5 premières années d’implantation. Analysez les raisons qui ont poussé Wal-Mart à s’internationaliser. Est-ce que Wal-Mart avait vraiment besoin de s’internationaliser ? De toute évidence, il avait mis au point un modèle économique performant pour soutenir la concurrence aux États-Unis. Pourquoi ne pas simplement rester sur le marché américain? La réponse est que la société avait besoin de grandir pour survivre, et la scène internationale était le seul moyen pour qu’une croissance significative soit possible. Pourquoi la croissance était si importante? Tout d'abord, l’entreprise avait besoin de montrer une augmentation dans les ventes et les profits pour satisfaire les attentes du marché des capitaux. Deuxièmement, il avait besoin de satisfaire les attentes de ses propres employés. Un des facteurs clés du succès de Wal-Mart était sa force de travail dévoué et engagé. Grâce au plan de Wal-Mart d'achat d'actions, la richesse de ces employés a été directement liée à la valeur marchande des actions de la société, créant un lien direct entre la croissance et son effet sur le cours des actions et moral de l’entreprise. Compte tenu de la nécessité de croissance, Wal-Mart...
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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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...Wal-Mart: Global Market Strengths and Weaknesses Option C Donnitia Decembly Rodney Emery Lynne Johnson Central Michigan University MSA 601: Organizational Behavior Introduction According to CNN Money, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., is a Fortune 500 and has topping the list for many years. It is the largest retail company Wal-Mart is a worldwide corporation with stores in all U.S. states and in 15 other countries (The New York Times, 2013). The company started with one small store in Arkansas and has since blown up into the biggest-earning corporation in the world. It has the most employees of any non-government company in the world. It has made its reputation and built its customer base on the basis of low prices (Business Insider, 2012). Wal-Mart is a huge, successful corporation that can serve as a useful case study for anyone who wants to build a successful business. There are a variety of factors that have impacted Wal-Mart’s international success. In order to properly understand this success, it is useful to perform a competitive analysis that looks at the firm's successes and weaknesses globally. Mexico Market Adapting to cultural differences in countries like Mexico has opened up a very prosperous international venture for Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart hired locals to manage their stores, let manager’s control the merchandise strategy, made sure that the merchandise they carried reflected the local surroundings, and built smaller stores in local neighborhoods to accommodate...
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...1. What is the ethical dilemma facing Wal-Mart in this case? Do Wal-Mart’s associates also face an ethical dilemma? If so, what is it? Wal-Mart faces the ethical dilemma of Quality of Life. While there are many components discussed in the book that comprise quality of life, the one component most subject to violation by Wal-Mart would be Maintaining Boundaries. The flexible schedule system being implemented by Wal-Mart does have business value, but at what cost? Wal-Mart rationalizes the system by focusing on improving customer service. “Our main goal is to ensure that we have the correct number of associates in our stores needed to serve the customers shopping which we believe results in better customer service hour by hour” (clwill.com). The problem is that many associates of Wal-Mart have been affected by the flexible schedule in a negative way. The flexible schedule makes it difficult for employees to plan babysitting needs or prevents them from having Wal-Mart as a second or third job. That means workers may not know when or if they will need a babysitter or whether they will work enough hours to pay that month's bills. Rather than work three eight-hour days, someone might now be plugged into six four-hour days, mornings one week and evenings the next (Maher, Kris 2007). 2. What ethical principals apply to this case? How do they apply? There are two ethical principals that apply to this case for Wal-Mart. The first is the The Golden Rule, which states “Do unto others...
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...of Contents Introduction2 Wal-Mart’s resources2 Tangible resources2 Intangible resources3 Human resource3 Wal-Mart’s capabilities4 Distribution4 Corporate function4 Operation4 Management Information4 Marketing5 Competitive advantages5 Knowledge management5 Distribution network5 Relationships strategy with suppliers and associates6 Financial management6 International operation6 Conclusion7 References list7 Introduction This project will analyze resources and capabilities of Wal-Mart and the linkage between two strands. According to Wal-Mart’s case, it can be divided Wal-Mart’s resources into three main types of resource: tangible, intangible, and human resources. Moreover, thanks to its resources, Wal-Mart’s capabilities comprises of distribution, operation, management information, marketing, and corporate function. If linkage between resources and capabilities can be indicated and understood, it enables Wal-Mart to produce many competitive advantages: knowledge management, distribution network, partnerships, and financial management. Through those advantages, Wal-Mart creates some strategies for the growth of its operation line within United State or extending over the world. Wal-Mart’s resources Tangible resources In terms of financial resources, the company has established in discount retailing format and become the largest and most profitable retailer in the world. It has been developing rapidly, as result; Wal-Mart produces much profit to reinvest...
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...estrategias y como puede aplicarse en mi escenario de trabajo. La negociación es un proceso que se realiza entre dos partes, para lograr un bien en común. Puede llegar ahacer dee gran impacto n la vida de una persona. A la hora de negociar es muy importante escoger bien la estrategia que se utilizara y así lograr una negociación exitosa. Negociación entre Sarah Talley y las tiendas Wal-Mart Los propietarios de pequeñas empresas desean negociar con las empresas Wal-Mart para poder obtener un contrato donde se puedan intercambiar beneficios. Es necesario que ambos comerciantes puedan quedar satisfechos y de esta forma llegar a un buen negocio. Las pequeñas empresas desean obtener un contrato para poder vender su mercancía. Cuando se trata de grandes cadenas de tiendas como wal-mart, los beneficios terminan favoreciéndoles a las grandes empresas y a su vez los pequeños comerciantes terminan aceptando un contrato donde se ven afectados hasta el punto que pueden perder su negocio por perdidas. Según el articulo “ las negociaciones con Wal-Mart” Hanna J. (2008) Sarah Talley entra en una negociación para lograr vender a Wal-Mart, calabazas y sandías. Al Walt-Mart ser un minorista importante este entre en duras negociaciones co las pequeñas empresas para poder mantener sus precios mas bajos. La intención de Sarah es lograr coseguir un contrato con ellos. En la estrategia que Sarah adoptó esta en conseguir una comprensión prospectiva , de acuerdo a Walt-Mart sería beneficioso para la organización...
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... DO Wal*Mart Stores, Inc. In Forbes magazine’s annual ranking of the richest Americans, the heirs of Sam Walton, the founder of Wal*Mart Stores, Inc., held spots five through nine in 1993 with $4.5 billion each. Sam Walton, who died in April 1992, had built Wal*Mart into a phenomenal success, with a 20-year average return on equity of 33%, and compound average sales growth of 35%. At the end of 1993, Wal*Mart had a market value of $57.5 billion, and its sales per square foot were nearly $300, compared to the industry average of $210. It was widely believed that Wal*Mart had revolutionized many aspects of retailing, and its was well known for its heavy investment in information technology. David Glass and Don Soderquist faced the challenge of following in Sam Walton’s footsteps. Glass and Soderquist, CEO and COO, had been running the company since February 1988, when Walton, retaining the chairmanship, turned the job of CEO over to Glass. Their record spoke for itself—the company went from sales of $16 billion in 1987 to $67 billion in 1993, with earnings nearly quadrupling from $628 million to $2.3 billion. At the beginning of 1994, the company operated 1,953 Wal*Mart stores (including 68 supercenters), 419 warehouse clubs (Sam’s Clubs), 81 warehouse outlets (Bud’s), and four hypermarkets. During 1994 Wal*Mart planned to open 110 new Wal*Mart stores, including 5 supercenters, and 20 Sam’s Clubs, and to expand or relocate approximately 70 of the older Wal*Mart stores (65...
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...King Talal School for Business Management Information System Department Wal-Mart By: Yasmine Okasheh Supervisor: Dr. This graduation project was submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the bachelor’s degree in MIS May 8, 2012 Committee Decision This graduation project "Market Segmentation" was successfully defended and approved on April 3, 2012. Examination Committee Signature Dr. Abd Al-Ghafoor ______________ Authorization Form I am Yasmine Okasheh authorize PSUT – King Talal school to supply copies of my graduation project to libraries or establishments or individuals on request. Signature _______ Date _______ Abstract On our research we focused on the selection of groups of people who will be most receptive to a product. The most common method of segmenting includes demographic variables such as age, race, sex, income, occupation, education, geographic location, household status etc. Much of the segmentation will involve a combination of these variables and no matter how the segments are defined they are characterized by considerable change over time. The main purpose of segmenting a market is to allow a market or sales program to focus on the prospects that are most likely to purchase the products or services on offer. If it is done properly it ensures that the best return for the marketing expense is outlaid. There are definite differences and these depend on whether you...
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