This career research report compares Walmart and Target as potential employers by examining key selection criteria including company culture, size, location, and benefits. Using SWOT analyses drawn from Marketline company profiles, the paper evaluates each retailer's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Walmart is recognized as the global retail leader, but its enormous scale, labor litigation issues, and rising operational costs raise concerns for a prospective manager. Target, though smaller, is praised for its distinct corporate culture, quality-focused merchandise strategy, and manageable growth trajectory. The report concludes that Target is the preferred employer for a career-minded individual seeking meaningful advancement in retail management.
Researching companies is very important when considering a future career (Armstrong, 2006). The two companies examined here are Walmart and Target, in order to determine which one, if any, would be the best choice for the researcher to work at based on all the factors that matter most.
The purpose of this report is to discuss both Walmart and Target and to show that the two companies have many similarities and differences that are relevant when a person is looking for employment. The scope of the research addresses a SWOT analysis, along with other information about each company.
The majority of the data comes from Marketline documents that provide company and SWOT analysis information. Additional data comes from the companies' websites and a book providing information on human resources practices.
Target is the preferred company for a variety of reasons. Those reasons will become apparent throughout the rest of the paper, where a SWOT analysis and other justifications for choosing the company will be addressed. In order to understand the value of conducting the analysis, one must recognize the importance of factors beyond compensation alone when choosing a meaningful career.
To select a company, the culture must be appropriate for the career seeker. Some people are much more interested in working closely with others and see the value of teamwork. Others are more focused on working independently, and not every company will allow for that. Determining how a company operates from a cultural standpoint can make the difference between loving a career and dreading it.
The size of a company also matters, and bigger is not always better. While Walmart is larger than Target, the company also has more growing pains and greater difficulties with employee and customer satisfaction — factors this career seeker would prefer to avoid. Walmart has 2.2 million employees (Walmart Stores, 2014), while Target has only 361,000 (Target Stores, 2014). The smaller size of a company can make management considerably easier.
Company location is not a significant concern. As long as the company has a store or a corporate location within the United States where the career seeker can work, it will be possible to find a suitable work location, secure housing, and address other factors such as schools, shopping, and other elements that relate to life satisfaction and standard of living.
Company benefits are very important from a personal standpoint. Many companies are moving away from providing benefits to workers because of the associated costs. However, that does not mean all companies are doing this, or that a career seeker should accept less than he or she is worth. Because employee benefits are so important, career seekers should think carefully before choosing companies that do not offer the benefits those individuals want and need.
Walmart has more than two million employees throughout the world working to provide customers with what they want and need (Walmart Stores, 2014). It was founded by Sam Walton and quickly grew into the world's largest retail company (Walmart, 2014). Its headquarters are in Bentonville, Arkansas, where the company was originally founded (Walmart, 2014). Because Walmart is at the top of its industry, it is able to expand into numerous new areas. It can also account for regional markets by scaling back to smaller stores or making modifications that allow for a better customer experience based on cultural and other expectations (Walmart Stores, 2014).
The array of products and services Walmart provides is difficult for other companies to compete with, since the store carries everything from milk and bread to tires and batteries. Home furnishings, food, pet supplies, automotive items, DIY products, sporting goods, and many other categories are found at nearly every Walmart location, with adjustments made based on what a particular regional market requests or needs (Walmart Stores, 2014). This expansive product and service line makes the company highly competitive. While rivals such as Target exist, none are large enough to take significant market share away from Walmart or cause it to lose relevance across the vast majority of its markets.
The customers of Walmart are generally very loyal to the store. They recognize the value available there and understand that they are saving money compared with the competition, which keeps them returning. Having good products and good employees can go a very long way toward a company's success (Armstrong, 2006). However, Walmart must also recognize that customer loyalty is what allows it to remain relevant in the marketplace. If that loyalty were to shift to another retailer, the company could eventually be harmed. Walmart has attempted to mitigate this risk by stocking both low-cost and higher-cost, better-quality items (Walmart, 2014). By catering to more than one demographic, Walmart is better positioned to maintain its place at the top of the retail industry.
A SWOT analysis of Walmart indicates that the company is a market leader, and its wide product assortment is one of its most important strengths (Walmart Stores, 2014). Additionally, the company benefits from low-cost leadership that enables it to offer low prices — which many customers want, need, and have come to expect (Walmart Stores, 2014). Since Walmart has expanded internationally, it has a very strong foundation for growth and is focused on becoming more competitive in regional markets previously dominated by local or other competitors (Walmart Stores, 2014).
"Target's culture, products, and SWOT findings"
"Target preferred for size and culture"
"Education and training steps for Target career"
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