In 1962, Sam Walton founded Wal-Mart Inc that was later renamed Walmart in the year 2008 (Jones, 2011). All through this time, the company has grown from a simple business venture to a multi-national corporation. It is the 18th largest publicly owned company in the world and has employed over 2 million individuals making it be the leading employer in the world. In the course of its operations, the company has gone through several challenges and obstacles. These challenges have been both external and internal in nature. As a result, it has been able to identify its strengths and improve its weaknesses.
Team spirit, proper organization structures, communication, leadership, administration, and organization culture are some of the internal factors that have been affecting Walmart. On the other hand, competition, fluctuating market prices, inflation, poor economy, and the changing needs of consumers are some of the external factors that affect the company. In response, the company has developed a simple and yet effective managerial planning strategy.
The company has different levels of planning that aim at integrating the managerial, middle, and lower levels of staff at attaining the goals and objectives of the organization. Before setting up these plans, the company has to consider ethical, legal and corporate issues that have been affecting its operations and the overall effect of these plans (Jones, 2011). At the same time, the management sets goals and objectives that have to be achieved by the plans within a specified time. These plans are thus seen as visionary moves that guide the company to achieve the desired status within a certain time.
Having a well-developed plan is one thing, but executing it is another. To achieve the desired outcome, the effective organization has to be put in place. Walmart is well aware of this fact. With its diverse workforce, the company has developed an organizational culture that works hard as a team to meet the needs and demands of their customers. The organization is divided into different departments, each having a specific role to play and goals to achieve. The goals and objectives of each department have been designed in such a way to ensure that the overall goals and objectives of the organization are achieved (Jones, 2011).
All through its existence, Walmart has realized that sound leadership is essential to the growth and success of the company. Having quality leadership ensures that the internal and external operations of the company are conducted in an effective and efficient manner. Walmart has a top-down leadership approach. This model enhances communication within the organization. It does not support bureaucracy. This, therefore, ensures that information within the organization is channeled properly and flows in all directions. For effectiveness and efficiency, the organization also has team leaders, operational leaders, and strategic leaders. This model ensures that strong leadership is exercised at every level of operation. As a result, the company is run effectively. Hence, it is able to achieve its short term and long-term goals and objectives.
To maintain the legacy of Sam Walton, the current management of Walmart has been exercising proper control that aims at keeping the organization ahead of its rivals and competitors. It is their role to control when and where new stores will be opened, which strategies should be employed to ensure effective and efficient management of the organization, which companies to collaborate with, whom to employ, and so on. These control measures ensure that all the activities and operations within the firm are in line with the overall goals and objectives of the organization.
References
Jones, M. (2011). Management Planning at Walmart. Oppares.com. Web.