Organizational Structure Paper Narrative Essay

As the third largest corporation, Wal-Mart is the fastest growing retailer around the world, and still expanding. Each week, more than two hundred and forty five million customers visit’s 10,800 stores, twenty seven countries and e-commerce websites in ten countries. Sam Walton foundede Wal-Mart in 1962 and the first store ever opened was in Rogers Arkansas. Wal-Mart is dedicated to making a difference in lives of customers, with convenience and saving money. Wal-Marts business is the result of Sam Walton’s visionary leadership, along with generations of associates focused on helping customers and communities save money and live better. (2012 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc)

In 2012, the Wal-Mart Foundation gave more than $1 billion in cash and in-kind contributions around the world. This includes $1 billion in cash and in-kind gifts in the United States and $82.2 million in cash and in-kind gifts in international markets. In addition, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club and Logistics associates volunteered more than 2.2 million hours, generating $18 million to U.S. Nonprofits. (2012 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.)

When constructing an organization, management strives to use the most effective ways to coordinate and organize their business to obtain the highest levels of production possible. For all business it is crucial to set the organizing function in place. According to (http://news.walmart.com ) it states that “ over the last year Wal-mart has improved and is making positive changes. Starting with the scheduling system, inventory management and store management structure. The structure consists of, multiple president’s and CEO’s of the companies different entities. They are such a large company that they need multiple leaders to over see each division. Not only do they have a president for the actual Wal-Mart stores, but individual CEO’s for the U.S. division, international division, e-Commerce, Sam’s club, and among others.

Another organization I chose to discuss is McDonalds. This fast food chain is one of the largest around the world. Serving 118 countries, with more than 34,000 restaurants, and nearly serving sixty nine million people everyday. McDonalds was discovered in 1954 by a man named Ray Kroc. The restaurant was first opened in California, and from a small start has become one of the worlds leading food service retailers. The structure of this business contains a president and chief executive officers, worldwide supply chain, development franchising, vice president, global chief, and many more that are in place to successfully run a large business.

The two large corporations that I chose are similar in ways of putting people together to make sure the business are ran accordingly and effectively. However, the difference in their structure is, a fast food retailer vs a large company that manufacturers more than just food.

3.

I found an article which is pretty interesting. According to ( http://misspreet.hubpages.com ) It states that “ Wal-Mart has control over their customers because they decide what products they are going to sell and carry in their stores. Wal-Mart houses goods from other corporate powers, while discarding locally produced goods and services. The difference between McDonalds’ and Wal-Mart is that Wal-Mart has control over workers and companies all over the world. McDonald’s choices affect McDonalds’, where as Wal-Mart has a global choke hold.”

Lastly, (http://misspreet.hubpages.com) states that, “Wal-Mart has control over their workers, an example would be their ability to keep their wages low and keep them nonunion. Wal-Mart has control over their customers because they decide what merchandise they are going to sell and carry in their stores. Wal-Mart houses goods from other corporate powers, while discarding locally produced goods and services. The difference between McDonalds’ and Wal-Mart is that Wal-Mart has control over workers and companies all over the world. McDonald’s choices affect McDonalds’, where as Wal-Mart has a global choke hold. I find this next statement to be true “ The world cannot function without Wal-Mart and Wal-Mart cannot function without the world.”

Something that is very interesting to me is Human Resources. Individuals that operate this portion of this business play a big role. Wal-Mart depends on their Human Resource team to fit the right person to the right job. HR associates goal is to motivate millions of employees, making sure that each one feels comfortable and capable of accomplishing day to day jobs. Wal-Marts HR department includes, market HR manager, benefits manager, and recruiting manager. Each one plays an important role with the company, to over ensure the company is successful

According to http://www.strategicminds.eu it states that “Wal-Mart’s online marketing campaign covers all facets of strategy, but through all the apparent strategies, it is their aggressiveness that has highlighted and broadened their need to succeed and remain at the top of the industry in retail. Wal-Mart’s marketing consists of flooding the market with their presence. This is alarming for individuals who find Wal-Mart’s business practices alarming. But with such a massive quantity of stores, intensely competitive pricing, and such a large market share, their marketing strategy has entailed an overall takeover of all the appropriate markets.”

A divisional structure has three categories in which are; product structure, market structure, and geographic structure. However, Wal-Mart falls under market structure. This is where groups function by types of customers so that each division contains the functions it needs to service a specific areas of the market.

The market structure is an essential part of any business. This determines how buyers interact in the market, how prices change, and the production and selling processes. The basic types are, oligopolies, monopolies, prefect competition and monopsony. Geographic structure groups employees together based upon specific geographic location. This is often used by Wal-Mart as it operates in many areas throughout the United States or in both the U.S. and overseas.

4.

After doing some research I learned a lot about this particular corporation. Wal-mart is indeed a very large retail store, that is just not your average grocery store. They make shopping more convenient, offering hundreds of items and services right inside the store. As well as the many programs they fund, such as education, military, disaster, and many more. Wal-Mart has a strong organizational structure, but with the right team and leaders, it is sure to be a success.

References:

http://wiki.answers.com

http://corporate.walmart.com

http://www.mlive.com