Walmart: A Case Study in Strategy
Walmart: A Case Study in Strategy
Sean Karrels
Webster University
Management 5650 Management and Strategy 2014
Professor Mike Gibbs
September 20, 2014
Abstract
As I sat down several weeks ago to begin writing this case study, I struggled with how I wanted to lay the paper out, however, when I opened Lee Scott’s 21st century leadership speech that was part of the required reading, the following quote struck me as the essence of the whole case study, so I would like to share it with you. You know, we are in uncharted territory as a business. You won’t find any case studies at the Harvard Business School highlighting answers for companies of our size and scope. If we were a country, we would be the 20th largest in the world. If Walmart were a city, we would be the fifth largest in America. People expect a lot of us, and they have a right to. (Scott, 2005)
Walmart: A Case Study in Strategy
From their website, Walmart helps people around the world save money and live better -- anytime and anywhere -- in retail stores, online and through their mobile devices. Each week, more than 245 million customers and members visit our nearly 11,000 stores under 71 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 10 countries. With fiscal year 2014 sales of approximately $473 billion, Walmart employs 2.2 million associates worldwide. (Walmart, 2014) Opened in 1962 in Rogers, AR, Walmart has grown from a local company to a global company with international reach. Walmart has opened thousands of stores in the U.S. and expanded internationally. Walmart operates over 11,000 retail units under 71 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 10 countries. (Walmart, 2014) Through innovation, they are attempting to create a seamless experience to let customers shop anytime and anywhere online, through mobile devices and in stores. Walmart is completely committed to saving people money so they can live better according to their website and that is the message they have
Sean Karrels
Webster University
Management 5650 Management and Strategy 2014
Professor Mike Gibbs
September 20, 2014
Abstract
As I sat down several weeks ago to begin writing this case study, I struggled with how I wanted to lay the paper out, however, when I opened Lee Scott’s 21st century leadership speech that was part of the required reading, the following quote struck me as the essence of the whole case study, so I would like to share it with you. You know, we are in uncharted territory as a business. You won’t find any case studies at the Harvard Business School highlighting answers for companies of our size and scope. If we were a country, we would be the 20th largest in the world. If Walmart were a city, we would be the fifth largest in America. People expect a lot of us, and they have a right to. (Scott, 2005)
Walmart: A Case Study in Strategy
From their website, Walmart helps people around the world save money and live better -- anytime and anywhere -- in retail stores, online and through their mobile devices. Each week, more than 245 million customers and members visit our nearly 11,000 stores under 71 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 10 countries. With fiscal year 2014 sales of approximately $473 billion, Walmart employs 2.2 million associates worldwide. (Walmart, 2014) Opened in 1962 in Rogers, AR, Walmart has grown from a local company to a global company with international reach. Walmart has opened thousands of stores in the U.S. and expanded internationally. Walmart operates over 11,000 retail units under 71 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 10 countries. (Walmart, 2014) Through innovation, they are attempting to create a seamless experience to let customers shop anytime and anywhere online, through mobile devices and in stores. Walmart is completely committed to saving people money so they can live better according to their website and that is the message they have
References: Bonini, S. M., Mendoca, L. T., & Oppenheim, J. M. (2006). When Social Issues become strategic. McKinsey Quarterly, 20-32. Dudley, R. (2013, March 28). businessweek.com-articles. Retrieved from businessweek.com: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-03-28/walmart-faces-the-cost-of-cost-cutting-empty-shelves Ewing, P Head, S. (2004, December 16). Inside the Leviathan. The New York Review of Books, pp. 1-9. McMillon, D. (2014, January 28). Disruptive Innovation Ahead. (S. Ruhle, Interviewer) McMillon, D Pelletier, J. (2013, November 27). fool.com/investing general. Retrieved from www.fool.com: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/11/27/3-challenges-new-wal-mart-ceo-doug-mcmillion.aspx Scott, L Walmart. (2014, September 20). Our Story. Retrieved from Walmart.com: http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/?povid=P1171-C1093.2766-L6 Footnotes