About The Walmart Corporate

The History Of Walmart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.,is an American multinational retail corporation that operates chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. Headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, the company was founded by Sam Walton in 1962 and incorporated on October 31, 1969. It has over 11,000 stores in 27 countries, under a total 71 different banners.

Walmart is the world's largest company by revenue, according to the Fortune Global 500 list in 2014, the biggest private employer in the world with over two million employees, and the largest retailer in the world. Walmart is a family-owned business, as the company is controlled by the Walton family, who own over 50 percent of Walmart through their holding company, Walton Enterprises. It is also one of the world's most valuable companies (in terms of market value), and is also the largest grocery retailer in the US. In 2009, it generated 51 percent of its US$258 billion (equivalent to $284 billion in 2014) sales in the US from grocery business. It also owns and operates the Sam's Club retail warehouses in North America.

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 their 11,000 stores under 71 banners in 27 countries and e-commerce websites in 11 countries. With fiscal year 2014 sales of approximately $473 billion, Walmart employs 2.2 million associates worldwide.

Experience Walmart's History

Walmart's history is more than just the stores we've built, the partnerships we've made and the customers we've served. So much of our history is in the details. See how Walmart began, how we grew and how our leadership has changed the retail industry.

1960s

Retail Revolution
Sam Walton's strategy was built on an unshakeable foundation: The Lowest Prices Anytime, Anywhere.

1962
On July 2, 1962, Sam Walton opened the first Walmart store in Rogers, Ark.

1967
The Walton family owned 24 stores, ringing up $12.7 million in sales.

1969
The company officially incorporated as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

1970s
Walmart Goes National
In the 1970s, a decade of incredible growth, "Mr. Sam" began to take Walmart national, proving his vision's widespread appeal.

1970
Walmart became a publicly traded company. The first stock was sold at $16.50 per share.


1971
The first distribution center and Home Office opened in Bentonville, Ark.

1972
Walmart was listed on the New York Stock Exchange (WMT).
With 51 stores, Walmart recorded sales of $78 million.

1975
Inspired by a visit to a Korean manufacturing facility, Sam Walton introduced the Walmart cheer.

1979
The Walmart Foundation was established.

1980s

Decade of Firsts
In the 1980s, the first Sam's Club opened, serving small businesses and individuals, and the first Walmart Supercenter opened, combining a supermarket with general merchandise.

1980
Walmart reached $1 billion in annual sales, faster than any other company at that time.
Walmart had 276 stores and employed 21,000 associates.

1983
The first Sam’s Club opened in Midwest City, Okla.
Walmart replaced cash registers with computerized point-of-sale systems, enabling fast and accurate checkout.

1984
Sam Walton did the hula on Wall Street, making good on a promise to associates after the company achieved a pre-tax profit of 8% for the previous fiscal year.

1987The company installed the largest private satellite communication system in the U.S., linking the company's operations through voice, data and video communication.

1988
The first Walmart Supercenter opened in Washington, Mo., combining general merchandise and a full-scale supermarket to provide one-stop shopping convenience.David Glass was named CEO.

1990sAmerica’s Top Retailer
By 1990, Walmart was the nation's number-one retailer. As the Walmart Supercenter redefined convenience and one-stop shopping, Every Day Low Prices went international.

1991
Through a joint venture with Cifra, a Mexican retail company, Walmart went global, opening a Sam’s Club in Mexico City.

1992
While receiving the Medal of Freedom, Sam Walton articulated the company’s mission of saving people money so they can live better, shortly before passing away at age 74.

Rob Walton became chairman of the board.
Walmart employed 371,000 associates in 1,928 stores and clubs.

1993
Walmart celebrated its first $1 billion sales week.

1994
Walmart expanded into Canada with the purchase of 122 Woolco stores.

1996
Walmart opened its first stores in China.

1997
The company celebrated its first $100 billion sales year.

1998
The Neighborhood Market format was introduced with three stores in Arkansas.

1999
Walmart entered the United Kingdom with the acquisition of ASDA.


2000s
New Millennium
Walmart entered the new millennium dedicated to offering customers a seamless shopping experience, whether they are online, in a store or on a mobile device.

2000
H. Lee Scott, Jr. succeeded David Glass as CEO.
Walmart.com was founded, allowing U.S. customers to shop online.
Walmart employed more than 1.1 million associates in 3,989 stores and clubs worldwide.

2002
For the first time, Walmart topped the Fortune 500 ranking of America's largest companies.
Walmart entered the Japanese market through its investment in Seiyu.

2005
Walmart took a leading role in disaster relief, contributing $18 million and 2,450 truckloads of supplies to victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Walmart made a major commitment to environmental sustainability, announcing goals to create zero waste, use only renewable energy and sell products that sustain people and the environment.

2006
Walmart introduced its $4 generic-drug prescription program.


2007
Walmart.com launched Site to Store service, enabling customers to make a purchase online and pick up merchandise in stores.

2009
Mike Duke became CEO.
Walmart entered Chile with the acquisition of a majority stake in D&S S.A.
For the first time, Walmart exceeded $400 billion in annual sales.

2010
Bharti Walmart, a joint venture, opened its first store in India.
Walmart committed $2 billion through the end of 2015 to help end hunger in the United States.
Walmart launched a global commitment to sustainable agriculture, aiming to strengthen local farmers and economies,
while providing customers access to affordable, high-quality food.2011
With the acquisition of MassMart in South Africa, Walmart surpassed 10,000 retail units around the world.


The first Walmart Express stores were introduced in Arkansas.
Walmart established @walmartlabs, a hub for developing social, mobile and global platforms.

2012
Walmart celebrated 50 years of helping people save money so they can live better.

2014
Doug McMillon succeeded Mike Duke as CEO.
The company employs 2.2 million associates worldwide and serves more than 200 million customers each week at more than 11,000 stores in 27 countries.

Source: The Walmart Corporate,Our Story, http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/

Walmart Part 6_Controlling

1. Does Wal-Mart’s use of automation and information technology eliminate the need for workers and managers? Explain.

• The path to have a perfect logistic required more than a team of savvy efficiency experts, however it required automation. WalMart has introduced computers in the 1970s but Sam Walton purchased a satellite communication system and established electronic linkage. This automated end-to-end system kept products flowing to WalMart’s shelves at the right time and in quantities suited to customers demand. Use of automation and information technology will not eliminate the need for worker and manager. WalMart still needs worker and managers to monitor the automation and information technology. Although a few numbers of workers will be eliminate because automation and information technology help WalMart to become more superior efficiency, thus by reducing the number of worker help to cut down the cost and boost profit for WalMart. 

2. How will the creation of a Sustainability Index help Wal-Mart manage quality and performance?

• Sustainability Index is a team that establishes to measure the greenness of every item sold in store. WalMart will provide a label for every product, allowing customer to evaluate green benefit in the same way they evaluate nutrition benefit through food labeling. To be able to create the Sustainability Index a manager need to be creative in working on it. To meet the target of slash the greenhouse gas emission and eliminate 20 metric ton of CO2 emission, WalMart trying to be eco-friendly by purchasing wind and solar energy systems, designing sustainable buildings, mapping ultra-efficient driving routes, and recycling all plastic waste through a Super Sandwich bailing process. WalMart need to develop a team to make sure that the Sustainability Index is working well. In that sense the WalMart need to develop and manage the quality and performance of a manager. Other than that sustainability produces massive cost reduction, making WalMart more competitive. Since, WalMart is No.2 operating expense, a big cut in energy usage mean big savings for WalMart and lower prices for customers.

3. Why do Wal-Mart managers set goals such as “double fleet fuel efficiency in ten years” and “cut greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent in seven years”? Explain how managers would use the feedback control model to reach those goals.

• By setting goal manager know what their desire future state that the organization attempt to realize. In this case, WalMart wants to be fuel efficiency and trying to reduce greenhouse effect. They even purchasing wind and solar energy systems, designing sustainable buildings, mapping ultra-efficient driving routes, and recycling all plastic waste through a Super Sandwich bailing process. In a management system that regularly examines the process it is in charge of in order to make changes that will improve its output efficiency. Many business operations that include modern manufacturing facilities have implemented feedback control systems to monitor and fine tune the production process.

Walmart Part 5_Leading

1.        What personality traits does Walmart look for in a job candidate? How might wrong perceptions lead managers to hire the wrong people?

• Personality of an individual is the set of characteristics that underlie a relatively stable pattern of behavior in response to ideas, objects, or people in the environment. The personality traits that Walmart look for in a job candidate is someone who are extroverted and love to deal with customer. Extroversion is the degree which a person is outgoing, sociable, assertive, and comfortable with interpersonal relationships. As a worker in Walmart have to face different types of customer, good in communication skills is important to communicate with customer to increase the company’s goodwill.
• Perception is the cognitive process people use to make sense out of environment by selecting, organizing, and interpreting information. People outward appearance will affect the way of looking of manages even manages decision. So, when manager look only people outward appearance will influence their decision and might hire the wrong people.

2.        How would you characterize the leadership of Walmart founder Sam Walton.

• Leadership describes the ability to influence people toward the attainment of goals. In our opinion, we think that Sam Walton’s leadership can be classify to authentic leadership. Sam Walton is a leader that show commitment in his job. When the employees of Walmart feel the commitment from the leader, this will automatically generate the momentum to achieve the goal of organization. He always care and keep on motivate his employees. Sam Walton said that “Just because we work hard, we don’t have to go around with long faces.” For example, when Mr. Sam losing a bet with top executive David Glass, he donned a grass skirt and did a hula dance on Wall Street. He is also an open-minded leader that respect the opinion from his subordinates. There have a statement state that “Listen to your associates” in Walton’s playbook. Sam Walton generate the new idea by listening to his employees well.

3.        What tools does Walmart use to motivate employees? How might a lack of motivation affect associates and how should managers respond?

• Walmart use a slogan as the symbol of the organization to build strong team spirit among the employees. Walmart cheer is now used by all the Walmart’s international store. Although they use different language to spell out the cheer, but the value is still the same. When all of the employees speak out the cheer, they will feel like gaining momentum in their job.
• Motivation is an important tool used by manager to inspire worker to work and achieve the goal of the organization. Motivation can be in many types such as incentives, bonus, holiday and others. Lack of motivation will affect associates in many ways like dissatisfaction from employees and poor performance that will affect the revenue of the associates. When employees are lack of motivation, there is no satisfaction in their job because no one will encourage or motivate them. This lead to poor performance among the employees such as fail to complete a task on time and then affect the productivity of the company. When managers notice a change in behavior of employees, managers have to try talk to them and give some motivation. For example, manager can reward the employees once they complete their assigned task on time. This will make employees feel that their work are worthy and being appreciate by the company.

Walmart Part 4_Organising

1. Why does Walmart prefer to recruit new store managers from its large pool of hourly associates?

• Walmart prefer to recruit new store managers from its large pool of hourly associates is to create more jobs for economy or provide more career opportunities for the workers. Walmart is the world's largest employer that have more than 2.1 million associates internationally. There are many famous and brave job candidates that are willing to travel long distances for an opportunity to work at the company's new store.

2. Explain how Walmart's diversity benefits the organization. What are some challenges of diversity?

• A diversity in the workplace can greatly benefit the Walmart company by embraces the differences. Walmart is highly diverse with the most multinational corporations.  The Walmart management's commitment to diversity is widely recognized among the professional organizations. On gender diversity, Walmart has received coveted kudos or praises including "Top Companies for Female Executives" ( National Association of Female Executive), "Best Companies for Multicultural Women" (Working Mother Magazines), and "40 Great Organization for Women of Color" ( Women of Color Magazine).

• Some of the challenges of diversity are poor communication. The differences in ethnicity, ages, religions, cultures and sexes might lead to misunderstanding among the employees that can affect the company's performances. Disorganization is one of the diversity challenges. The diversity might cause the company implementing an unorganized diversity plan but not having an effective strategy. Every workplace has people who resist diversity and the changes it brings. Individuals who do not take a diversity plan seriously are a big challenge to managers and owners trying to implement and maintain a plan. 

3. What federal laws govern the main legal issue raised in Dukes v. Walmart?

• The federal laws govern the main legal issue raised in Dukes v. Walmart is Title 7 of the Civil Rights Act of 1984 - job discrimination based on gender. 
• Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 23: What is necessary to certify a group of people as a "class" of plaintiffs so that they are entitled to bring an action against a defendant as a group, rather than individually, one-by-one? The US Supreme Court decision discussed the concept of "commonality," that is, that the plaintiffs have to have enough interests in common in the outcome to be "certified as a class." 
• Also the Supreme Court held that monetary damages in this case were not available under Rule 23 because each female Walmart employee had different claims and different amounts due and owing to them if they won the case. Rule 23 will not allow individualized claims for money damages.

Walmart Part 3_Planning

How does managerial planning for Project Impact take place at different levels within the organization?

• The planning process starts with top managers who are responsible for establishing a formal mission that defines the basic purpose of the organization. According to Walmart’s official, strategic planning is “Save money. Live better.” “ Win, Play, Show” and “Fast, Friendly, Clean.”
• Next level will be the tactical level where middle managers are responsible to formulate tactical plans that focus on the major actions in part of strategic goal. Castro-Wright's team cut 15 percent reduction of the store inventory, make shelves lowered as customer can easily see and categorize product according department so that customers take spend less time finding what they need.
• Lastly, operational level where lower management are responsible in identify the specific procedure and process needed at lower level of the organization. Walmart making a massive makeover of the store where store aisles are wider, assortment of product sell are tidy and also merchandise is marked with bigger bolder signage to attract the customers. Walmart also remove from using high shelves and discontinue the super-promotion aisle "Action Alley".

Using the concepts of strategic management and core competence, explain why Walmart is scaling back on “cheap chic” fashion apparel in its remodeled next-generation stores.

• Strategic management is the set of decisions and actions used to formulate and execute strategies that will provide competitively superior fit between the organization and its environment to achieve organizational goals. According to strategic management, there is manager question states that what products or services we should offer and how can we offer them most efficiently? Walmart scaling back on cheap chic because it fails in choosing the products that should be offer to make the product most efficiently.
• Walmart’s merchandising strategy is to fewer products in stores, must be selective about which products to carry, and more committed to selling in larger volume. Walmart is loading up on hot gadgets such as Apple’s iPhone 4, iPad, 3D TVs and also cheap chic fashion. However, the cheap chic designer apparel is getting the ace.
• In core competence, a company is something the organization does especially well in comparison to its competitors. Walmart focus on a core competence of operational efficiency that enables them keep costs low. Walmart scaling back on cheap chic because maybe there are other organization do well in comparison to his company even it has cheap chip fashion or Walmart are leak provide product that are better than other competitors.

What started the decision-making process that led to the overhaul of Walmart’s U.S. stores? What common errors in decision-making could thwart the success of Project Impact?

• The decision started from recognition of problem and opportunity where the idea according to Castro-Wright that found that customers on average spend only 21 minutes in their stores. If Walmart can’t make it easy for those customers to shop during the 21 minutes, the possibility that they are going to buy is less.
• The common error that could thwart the success of Project Impact is overconfidence. The manager fails to collect information because too sure of own assumptions, overestimate the ability and predict uncertain outcome. Besides that, another error is seeing what you want to see. The manager may only look for information that support their existing instinct or point of view and avoid information that contradicts it. Lastly, justifying past decision where manager assume experience is obvious and there is no need to analysis the result forecast.

Our Management Group Members (Cassiopeia)

Our Management_Cassiopeia Group Members :)
Anna, YueLi, Elaine(Leader), Vanessa, Azri & Aizwan.

All of us having a discussion in the CAIS, UNIMAS :)

Photo-shooting session with our photographer, MavisYeoh(Blue Shirt) after finished capturing the Teamwork-video.

Photo collage :D