1. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT

) is the world's largest brick-and-mortar retailer by a substantial margin. The company reported
worldwide revenue of $485.7 billion for its 2015 fiscal year, a year-over-year increase of about
2%. It operates 11,453 store locations in 27 countries. About $228 billion of its 2015 revenue,
nearly 60% of the total, is attributed to operations in the United States. Most of the company's
store locations worldwide operate under the Walmart brand. However, the company also operates
a number of other retail chains, including Sam's Club membership warehouse stores around the
world, ASDA stores in the United Kingdom, Bodega Aurrera stores in Mexico and Seiyu stores
in Japan. As of December 2015, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has a market capitalization of about $194
billion.

Walmarts Mission and Vision Statements

Walmarts Vision Statement. The company traces its success to the
ideals of its founder, Sam Walton. These ideals are emphasized in Walmarts
vision statement: To be the best retailer in the hearts and minds
of consumers and employees. The company aims to achieve a top
position in the retail industry. Based on its current situation, the firm has
already fulfilled the best retailer part of the vision. Walmarts vision
statement also points to the minds and hearts of the people that matter most
to the business, i.e. consumers and employees. The company has realistically
influenced the minds of consumers and employees on the basis of financial
benefits. Employees earn wages, while consumers save money through
Walmarts low prices. However, the heart component of the vision statement
remains to be proven.

Walmarts Mission Statement. The companys strategic decisions are also a

direct manifestation of its mission. Walmarts mission statement is Saving
people money so they can live better. This statement is
synonymous to the companys slogan, Save money. Live better. The firm
follows and succeeds in fulfilling the saving people money component of the
mission statement. Consumers save money through Walmarts low selling
prices. However, it is not yet clear if the company satisfies the live better
component of the mission statement. There are criticisms on Walmarts very
low wages that are barely enough for employees to make ends meet. There
are also criticisms about the long-term effects of the firms continued large-
scale sales of cheap and sometimes hazardous imported goods.

Walmarts Generic Strategy (Porters Model)

Based on Porters Model, Walmarts generic strategy is cost leadership. In
cost leadership, the firms focus is on maintaining low prices of goods and
services. Walmart is known for low prices, which is the main selling point of
the business. The company keeps its prices low through cost reduction in
operations. For example, the firm uses information technology to maximize
operational efficiency. Walmart also minimizes employees wages for this
purpose.
This generic strategy determines the other strategies used in the company.
One of the strategic objectives of Walmart is to keep operating costs low. As
mentioned, the firm minimizes wages and spending in other areas of the
business for this objective. Another strategic objective of Walmart is to achieve
economies of scale to support the cost-leadership generic strategy. To
minimize prices, the firm must maintain high sales volume and large-scale
operations.