WAL-MART STORES, INC.
Wal-Mart is operating a mass merchandising retail store in all 50 states of
the US under a variety of formats, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. as Wal-Mart scores a
number of 'tops' in its businesses. It has the largest discount department store
chain in the world, largest retail firm in the US and largest retailer in the world,
the wealthiest and most powerful corporation in the world. And more recently,
Wal-Mart gained the top spot of the most admired company in the world.
Sam Walton, a leader with an innovative vision, started his own company
and made it into the leader in discount retailing that it is today. Through his
savvy, and sometimes unusual, business practices, he and his associates led
the company forward for thirty years. Today, four years after his death, the
company is still growing steadily. Wal-Mart executives, to sustain its competitive
advantage, Wal-Mart has constantly adapt to its existing strategies to threats and
opportunities in the environment.
As noted by Warren Buffett when it came to
casting his vote for the most admired company in America for 2002, 'Wal-Mart is
the largest company around, and it hasn't lost a bit of the dynamism that it had
back when Sam Walton started it'.
This report will analyze the internal and external factors that put Wal-Mart
in its current position operating in the competitive retailing environment. The flow
of the analysis will start with a brief indication of the sector of business Wal-Mart
is operating, followed by the analysis of its internal factors comprising the
company's strength and weaknesses. Wal-Mart's external factors will then be
analyzed on its opportunities and threats. The challenges facing Wal-Mart in the
near future will also be addressed.
There are perhaps tens of strengths that had put Wal-Mart in its...