Walmart Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Walmart - Research Paper Example A progress in economy is achieved only when there is an uninterrupted production and consumption force. The growing population has made sure that the latter is always satisfied. It is the productivity that has a volatile quality attached to it. Productivity is one major force that can push the economic prosperity of any country, provided the workers and producers work towards the development of quality and cost-effective products. In the current scenario, with economic exploitation and commercialization spreading across at a rapid rate, there is an opportunity for everyone to compete in an equal environment. To be on top of such an environment, for more than three decades, it must take a great deal of effort and commitment. In this case, all those terms that define and celebrate success can only be associated with Wal-Mart, the world’s leading super-market. Be it in pricing of the products, implementation of latest technology to manage inventories or in customer satisfaction, Wal-Mart has always succeeded in achieving the best. The have become the largest employer in private category and have an outstanding record of having 8 out of every 10 Americans to be their customers. It has always been the case where they set the benchmark for the successful running of a private organization, and always, other competitors have followed their footsteps. Wal-Mart – How it began It all started, when a small time business man, Sam Walton, decided to start an innovative grocery store, innovative not by its design but by the principal of its working. When every other grocery store owner was trying to pocket the maximum discount got from supplier’s end, Walton decided to give it to the consumer itself. The principle behind that being, less price means less profit and more sales but, more sales guarantees a consistent profit. It was an instant success and riding on it, Walton went on to open Wal-Mart, his first of the many grocery stores, in the year 1962. ( Frank, 2011) Strategies of Wal-Mart Living a very modest life, Sam Walton was extremely frugal in his expenses. His mode of living helped him to focus on the principle of selling quality goods at low cost so that people get benefitted for each of their shillings they spend. The company still continues to work on this principle and continues to reap success. (Frank, 2011) The strategies of the organization are based on the motives given below: To be on top of the retail market ladder in each of their branch location By expanding the size of each store and selling every product at a cost comparatively lower to their competitors and by expanding their volume of sales, they have managed to achieve being a top company in retail market. To have a global expansion They have sustained their dominance by expanding globally. They have also spread their bases in eastern countries like China and India and have also made efforts to open outlets in developing countries. As a proof of their global expansion, they have about 2 million employees working in the organization, with 27 brands of Wal-Mart products and around 8000 retail outlets spread out in 15 countries. In 2009 alone, they have spent more than 4 billion to expand their outlets. (Densley, 2010) To improve customer satisfaction by developing a sense of trust about Wal-Mart They aim to achieve supreme quality with the products they sell through their brand name and provide the same at the lowest price possible. To improve the satisfaction of the customers, Wal-Mart has even made partnerships with other businesses like the food stores (e.g. McDonalds) and hang-out stores to allow them to keep a branch within their outlet. This helped the customers to have a feel of a complete and happy shopping experience. To expand business in other commercial product sectors. In the recent years, Wal-Mart has successfully ventured into new sectors like the pharmacy market, auto-markets, electronic products etc. They have maintained their

Does peanut corp. have a conscience What responsibilities does peanut Essay

Does peanut corp. have a conscience What responsibilities does peanut corp. owe society to self regulate their actions in pursuit of profits Did they follow CSR - Essay Example As the paper declares every time consumers walk into a supermarket or retail store they rarely pose to contemplate whether the products they are about to put into their shopping baskets are health hazards. There is an implicit trust that consumers have in the producers putting these products on the shelves, especially those who deal in food products. After all there are bodies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that are meant to ensure that food products are safe. A corporation is not a thinking, feeling being, hence the corporation in and of itself cannot be termed as having a conscience. However the corporation is made up of individuals who are held responsible for the actions that the corporation takes part in. these individuals are the ones who act as the corporation’s conscience because they are the decision makers. This discussion explores that building a good corporate culture entails in part ensuring that the individuals within a corporation who are responsible for the corporation’s actions are morally upright in that they can factor in the human component into the making their decisions. Though corporations are out to make profit, it should never be at the expense of their own consumers or the society within which they are based. There are repercussions that come with not observing the fundamental principles of business ethics and corporate social responsibility as will be seen with the case of Peanut Corporation of America.... sions that come with not observing the fundamental principles of business ethics and corporate social responsibility as will be seen with the case of Peanut Corporation of America. Salmonella in peanut butter; a modern day tale of greed and tragedy There have been eight deaths and now almost six hundred cases of infection related to the salmonella bacteria that has been found in peanut butter as well as other peanut products ranging from roasted peanuts, peanut granules, and dog food. It has become apparent that the contaminated peanut can be traced back to Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). These cases have been reported through forty five American states and across the border in Canada (Steenhuysen, 2009). According to a report complied by the Food and Drug Administration, there were tests run by the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA) that found traces of salmonella while conducting tests in its own labs in Blakely, Georgia. This did not happen once or twice, but an incredible twelve times between 2007 and 2008. Which means that PCA was presented with multiple opportunities to take action on the tainted peanut such as avoid shipping it all together. However, PCA did not opt to take what should have been the most natural and approvable cause of action, they opted to 'lab shop', that is, look for an outside laboratory that would be willing to state that the results for salmonella had come back negative. When the second results came back negative, PCA went ahead and shipped their products, an action which goes against standard protocol that demands that the first tests saying positive are the ones upon which further action is supposed to be decided (Steenhuysen, 2009). Another action that the company should have taken upon discovery of contamination was a