Wal-Mart Porters Wal-Mart Strategic Management

Wal-Mart mission is based on the model that by simply saving people money so they can live better. The philosophy and overall business strategy was developed based on a simple idea created by founder Sam Walton: offer shoppers lower prices than they can get anywhere else. This strategy has been the basis of an incredible history and growth record for the company. This strategy still guides the company in nearly all aspects of the organization. The company delivers the consumer the lowest costs possible through many of the strategic decisions in their human resources, their suppliers, their information, distribution and logistical systems as well as many more business functions.

Strategy Discussion

The success of this strategy is clearly evident from Wal-Mart's single location in the Midwest to its global presence as the world's largest private retailer. The company's current holding include more than 8,500 departmental and warehouse stores in 15 countries and is one of the world's most formidable low cost leaders (Ken, N.d.).However, despite all the company's successes, it faces a number of external pressures that can work to highlight many of the company's weaknesses. Since the company is so focused on maintaining its position is the low cost leader in the industry, it tends to neglect paying any more than...

However, Wal-Mart's business model makes the environmental concerns difficult to effectively mitigate. One area that Wal-Mart Super Stores has done well with over the years is the energy efficiency in their buildings. However, much of these efforts were based on reducing expenses from energy use. Wal-Mart has not given equal attention to other areas of operations which do not offer similar cost reductions.
With almost nine thousand retail units, more than a hundred thousand suppliers, and over two million associates, it will take a substantial organizational effort to address their environmental impacts. Furthermore with increased transportation costs rising, Wal-Mart could also be subject to more transportation costs which might negatively impact the low cost leader strategy. In response to some of the negative publicity regarding the environmental practices of the company, Wal-Mart's has announced a goal is to be one hundred percent powered by renewable energy, however the current renewable energy mix currently being used is about two percent in reality (Gunther, 2011).

Another external threat could…