...all at discounted prices. While they are known for their large superstores, this corporation has recently expanded into e-commerce by selling their goods online. They are known for their discounted and affordable prices which links back to their slogan, “save money and live better.” The annual report that I used in obtaining information about Walmart’s financial history was for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2017. Walmart’s total assets for the year ended January 31, 2017, totaled $198,825,000,000. This figure for total assets was a slight decrease from the previous year’s figure. On the income statement, Walmart’s total revenues amounted to...
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...Strategic Initiative FIN 370 March 10, 2013 Christine Gordon Strategic Initiative Strategic planning is the foundation of a successful business, according to a Commentary given by Viraj Yadav in Strategic Directions “Strategic planning is a crucial factor in the survival, development and success of any business” (Premeaux, 2009). In this paper there will be discussions on Walmart strategic initiative program and the effectiveness of it. Walmart is not only a leader in retail but leads concerning energy savings and conservation. Walmart has taken advantage of technology as it relates to renewable and perpetual resources such as the sunlight, solar panels, and wind. Not only does Walmart show that it is environmentally conscience, but also reinforces it is focus on the customer by strengthening productivity and reduce expenses with the “Powered by Walmart” initiative and at the same time to keep providing service for its customers and profits for its shareholder. Initiative Effects on Financial Planning The “Powered by Walmart” is an initiative that Walmart has implemented to reduce the company’s expenses by reviewing their processes and eliminating any unnecessary steps taking place and costs incurred. According to Walmart’s Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2012 Earnings Call on February 21, 2012 they expect to maximize their value by balancing global leverage (Walmart Annual Report, 2012). This message also stated that some...
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...Walmart’s Global Challenge, November 2014 Executive Summary Walmart Stores, Inc. is the world's largest retailer whose mission is “to help people around the world save money and live better -- anytime and anywhere -- in retail stores, online and through their mobile devices” (Corporate Walmart2, 2014, p.1). Samuel Walton founded Walmart in 1962 as a small chain of stores in rural towns and today Walmart is a multi-national retail corporation with “11,100 stores under 71 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries” (Corporate Walmart2, 2014, p.3). Walmart Stores topped Fortune Magazine’s “Fortune 500” list for 2014. “For fiscal year 2014, Walmart’s net sales totaled $473.1 billion, up 1.6% from the year-earlier period” (Fortune, 2014, p.1). Walmart is a publically traded company, with the second and third generation Walton family owning 51% of Walmart’s shares via a family holding company called Walton Enterprises LLC (Yahoo Finance, 2014, p.1). Walmart has enjoyed unprecedented growth in the span of 52 years, even in the face of negative publicity and threats from competitors like Family Dollar and Amazon. Walmart’s CEO, Doug McMillon, has laid out strategies to reduce their reliance on physical stores as they move towards expanding the e-commerce aspect of their company and on improving their overseas expansion plans. His four-part growth strategy provides the framework to enable a “company prepared to win on four key customer dimensions – price...
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...will develop a voice of the customer project. Plan with your team your individual ideas for application of the readings for a voice of the customer project for an organization of your choosing. What would the team recommend to improve the customers’ engagement? An executive summary of lessons learned from your team projects to date should be entered in the Team Executive Summary assignment. Summary Team Lions continued to develop a plan for Walmart’s transition from that of a traditional product centric organization, to building a more personal based relationship in becoming more customer centiric. The team implemented additional ideas in putting forth the voice of the customer project in considering conducting tests of utilizing direct mail opt-in strategies. Many organizations have dismissed direct mail altogether as too expensive, too slow, too outdated or all of the above. Such opt-in information can be used effectively in expanding our VOC Channel mix if it is utilized correctly. (Roman, 2011). With the amount of data we will be collecting through the Walmart rewards program, we should be able to access a database full of leads in conducting research to compare the results from doing a combined direct mail and email campaign, a direct mail-only campaign, and an email-only campaign (Kopecky, 2013). Provided below is such an example and break down results of tests that can be calculated. With Walmart’s growth internationally this form of opt-in VOC...
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...Strategic HRM Plan Team B HRM 498 November 3, 2014 Instructor Table of Contents Executive Summary………...……………………………………………………………………3 Choice of Organization - Walmart……………………………………………………………….5 Environmental Analysis………………………………………………………………………….6 Divisional Effectiveness Measurements...……………………………………………………….8 Final Report………………………………………………………………………………………9 Cultural HR Issues……………………………………………………………………….10 Emerging HR Issues………….……………………………………………………….....12 Five Year Action Plan……………………………………………………………………………16 References………………………………………………………………………………………..17 Executive Summary Walmart is one of the world’s largest retailers, serving communities worldwide and employing millions throughout their growing organization. This global organization has faced large amounts of scrutiny over the years and has seen legal repercussions from failure to comply with labor laws. Continuing to grow and rise above competitors, Walmart’s strategic HR plan needs to address some of these key opportunities and set the right employees in place to deliver on the company mission and vision. An effective strategic plan will also benefit the organizations reputation and image, both internally and externally. Ongoing pressures and cultural HR issues Walmart faces includes environmental preservation and the companies initiatives to “go green”, as well as the organizations reservations and discouragement towards...
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...INFORMATION SYSTEMS Walmart’s Retail Link Supply Chain CASE 1 VIDEO CASE Systems SUMMARY An introduction to Walmart’s Retail Link system, one of the largest B2B supply-chain systems in the world. Retail Link connects consumer purchase data to the Walmart purchasing system and to vendor supply systems. Retail Link plays a key role in Walmart’s corporate strategy to become the dominant low-cost provider of retail goods. L=7:13. URL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUe-tSabKag CASE Walmart is a well-known leader in the application of network technology to coordinate its supply chain. Walmart’s supply chain is the secret sauce behind its claim of offering the lowest prices everyday. It’s able to make this promise because it has possibly the most efficient B2B supply chain in the world. It doesn’t hurt to also be the largest purchaser of consumer goods in the world. With sales of more than $443 billion for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2012, Walmart has been able to use information technology to achieve a decisive cost advantage over competitors. As you might imagine, the world’s largest retailer also has the world’s largest supply chain, with more than 60,000 suppliers worldwide. In the next five years, the company plans to expand from around 5,000 retail stores in the United States (including Sam’s Clubs) to over 5,500 and increase its selection of goods. Internationally, continued Chapter 2, Case 1 Walmart’s Retail Link Supply...
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...together, we’ll lower the cost of living for everyone we’ll give the world an opportunity to see what it is like to save and have a better life”(Walton S.) Walmart’s company culture includes a list of values and beliefs it establishes through its management and employee relations. The company’s marketing efforts are to establish awareness that they are the price leaders in their market. In recent times, the company has focus on becoming involved more in local communities by charity and service. With the general instability of the global economy, corporations like to play it safe; Walmart is an example of a multinational which is making a bold move. Acquiring South African grocery chain Massmart offered Walmart a safe foothold to prepare for the next step, which is continental expansion. South Africa is arguably the most westernized country in Africa. Western companies in general perceive it as easier to do business there than in other African nations. II. SWOT ANALYSIS The SWOT analysis of Walmart shows that the company can have higher long-term success potential through aggressive global expansion, especially in retail markets in developing countries. Strengths: Walmart’s strengths are all related to the size of its business. These strengths enable the company to withstand threats despite its weaknesses. Walmart’s strengths for further global growth are: • Huge and loyal customer base • Global organizational size • Strong employee base • Strong financial position ...
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...Perspectives on International Trade and Finance Assessment 2 – Individual Case Analysis Case Analysis Walmart’s Expansion in Africa: A New Exploration Strategy Submitted by: Pharin Chhodarangsey (Kevin) 001MG715 Date of Submission: November 4th, 2015 Submitted to: Dr. Rachaniphorn Ngotngamwong 1 Table of Contents I. Introduction 3 I. 1 Company Background 3 II. Case Analysis 3 1. Detail the growth of Walmart and its international experience. 3 2. Describe the growth strategies of Massmart in the African Continent. 5 3. Detail Walmart’s acquisition of Massmart and expected strategic advantages.5 4. Analyses the challenges Walmart have to face in the African Continent. 6 5. What happened to Walmart’s operations after taking 51% share in Massmart in 2011? 7 References 2 I. Introduction I. 1 Company Background Walmart Stores, Inc., is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of discount department stores and warehouse stores. Headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, United States, the company was founded by Sam Walton in 1962 and incorporated on October 31, 1969. (Winston-Salem Journal, 2010) From the humble beginnings as a small discount retailer in Rogers, Ark., Walmart has opened thousands of stores in the United States and expanded internationally. Through the model of business global expansion, which brings the right store...
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...protectionism, opening to foreign investment, infrastructural improvement, rise of manufacturing supply base), was able to undercut its domestic rivals on the basis of price. Comerci’s problem regards how, and whether, to compete with Walmart. Beyond a motion filed with the Mexico’s Federal Competition Commission, which seems a longshot, the company is faced with the following options: 1. Remain independent, hoping for more favorable terms with suppliers; or 2. Pursue a merger with a local or foreign retailer. III. STRATEGIC ANALYSIS I have selected Porter’s Five Forces as a strategic analysis tool. This is owing to its incorporation of buyer, supplier and competitive factors, all of which are critical to resolving the case. The present analysis of the mass retail industry will be pursued with specific focus upon Walmart and Comerci’s relative positions. 1. Competitive rivalry is very high from Comerci’s perspective, moderate from Walmart’s. Walmart is simply in a position to dominate the market, for reasons that the remaining forces will educate. 2. Buyer power is a question of perspective....
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...Company Motivational Profile – Walmart Company Motivational Profile – Walmart To achieve success, organizations must have a clearly defined plan. Sam Walton, founder of Walmart, began his retail career as a management trainee at JC Penny. Walton opened a five and dime store in 1951 and his first Walmart opened in 1962. Walton’s concept of discounting prices included a large variety of low priced items, buying large quantity goods at the lowest price, and passing the savings on to his customers. Today’s retail organizations must have a plan to achieve success. Walton’s vision allowed Walmart to grow into a multi-billion dollar international retail giant. This paper discusses Walmart’s motivational profile including the background and history of Walmart, their corporate culture and management, the strengths and weaknesses of their motivational strategies, and finally, an analysis of Walmart’s motivational strengths and recommendations for future improvements. Background Information Before opening Walmart, Sam Walton traveled around the world studying everything he could about discount retailing. Walton became eager to bring the United States a different type of store. He had an idea that Americans wanted something out of the box. Walton put in most of his own personal money to open his first store in Rogers, AR. Walmart extended with more stores in later years. He always believed that if a business gave their customers what they wanted, they will continue to...
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...retailer with one of the most profitable business strategies on the planet. Walmart’s objective to offer the lowest prices to a diverse customer base has proven successful over several decades. Walmart began with a humble business model in the early 1960s. Sam Walton, original founder, wanted to provide people with the best prices possible. Sam Walton launched over a dozen locations to the public in the late 1960s. The profitable groundwork and strategy of every-day low prices spread rapidly through the next several decades. Throughout the 1990s, Walmart’s growth soared globally as they continued to facilitate a cost cutting strategy. America’s recent recession encouraged many low-income families to shop for Walmart’s low priced products. Walmart’s low prices may attract budgeting Americans, but their questionable operations are steering many others away. Walmart’s public perception is declining because of their negative organizational culture. Walmart’s employee wages are consistently below the American average, resulting in workers resorting to government aid. Discrimination lawsuits occur annually because of management’s stereotyping and poor leadership. Even Walmart’s ignorance to safe working conditions in other countries is beginning to surface in America’s media. Walmart’s leaders have attempted to address these issues, but ultimately failed to create a climate for change. Walmart’s future leadership must overcome their negative public perception by implementing...
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...Walton opened his first store in 1962, Walmart has grown into a global retailer with more than 4,000 store in the United States and more than 6,000 internationally. Walmart is comprised of three business segments, Walmart US, Walmart International and Sam’s Club. Walmart Global eCommerce works across all three segments. Walmart’s mission statement “We save people money so they can live better”, is not indicative of where its strategic focus areas are, but it does sound good for the average customer who has a limited budget. This mission statement leads directly into Walmart Global eCommerce goals which include combining online, social innovations with physical stores to give consumers “anywhere, anytime shopping experience” in addition to its organizational sustainability goal of creating zero waste, using only sustainable energy and selling products that sustain the environment which is important to all of Walmart’s segments including eCommerce. Walmart’s overall objective is to deliver shareholder value by increasing earnings per share, returns and maintaining strong stable returns on investment. According to Walmart CEO, Mike Duke, Walmart’s strategic focus areas are: •Making sure the company has the best retail talent at every level of the organization by recruiting, developing and retaining the best associates; •Delivering on the productivity loop that enables Walmart to operate for less so the company can drive prices even lower for its customers •Being even more...
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...The company's shares began trading on OTC markets in 1970 and were listed on the New York Stock Exchange two years later. The company grew to 276 stores in 11 states by the end of the decade. In 1983, the company opened its first Sam’s Club membership warehouse and in 1988 opened the first supercenter -- now the company’s dominant format -- featuring a complete grocery in addition to general merchandise. Walmart became an international company in 1991 when it opened its first Sam's Club near Mexico City. (Walmart.com) Background on Walmart Strategy Traditionally, Walmart has had a low-cost, high volume strategy. The strategy aims at customer satisfaction through low prices and good customer service. Following are the key points of Walmart’s strategy: • Low cost: Walmart has low operating expenses. One of the primary reasons for their low operating expenses is their superior distribution capability because of the location of stores, information...
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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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...HISTORY & BACKGROUND Founder of Walmart Sam Walton graduated from University of Missouri in 1940 with a degree in Economics. He wanted to capitalize on his work experience in retail. Sam had an idea to bring a different type of economical approach to the retail industry. Sam and his brother J.L. Walton owned nine Ben Franklin stores. They went to Ben Franklin store owners with the approach of reducing prices to increase sells and were turned away. In 1962, the 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...
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