Strategic Audit of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
I. Current Situation
Current Performance
Wal-Mart is at present experiencing continuing growth as it has since its creation. The reason for this continued growth is that through the years the company has stayed consistent with its mission of serving both its customers and associates and also maintaining its objective of being the very best in discount retail stores. Currently Wal-Mart is the number one discount retail store in the United States followed by Sears, K-Mart, Target and Kohls's, respectfully, operating in all 50 states. Wal-Mart is pursuing different target markets with the with the Wal-Mart Stores, Neighborhood Markets, Sam's Clubs and International Division. The company operates on procuring products with rigorous negotiations for the lowest price and economies of scale in turn to sell at thin margins and offer the customer the lowest price possible. Wal-Mart uses a top-of-the-line communications and information technology system for point of sale tracking and accounting.
English: Inside the Walmart (still branded as Wal-...
A protest in Utah against Wal-Mart
English: Supermercado de Wal-Mart in Spring Branch...Wal-Mart's International Division is operating in 10 counties other than the United States.
On the downside, Wal-Mart is experiencing a loss in growth, which means that the company is growing at a decreasing rate. As Wal-Mart is expanded into some of the foreign countries, it used the same practices that it did with the domestic stores and did not seem to be adapting its products or practices with the countries that it has expanded to. In other countries, Wal-Mart found opportunity but experienced losses due to moving too fast. On the home front, Wal-Mart has experienced situations various ethical and human resource issues.
Strategic Posture
1. Mission-
Its founder, Sam Walton, brought about the mission of Wal-Mart as to "Serve the associates and customers with compassion and integrity." It is implied that Wal-Mart is dedicated to improve the quality of life of its...