Wal-Mart Case Study

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Wal-Mart Stores: “Everyday low prices” in China Case HKU590 Harvard Business School Case preparation questions 1. Why is Wal-Mart successful in the U.S.? What are Wal-Mart’s competitive advantages and their sources? Walk-Mart sells brand name products at a cheaper price. Buy purchasing items in bulk and reducing costs in every other aspect of the business, the company can offer unbeatable low prices. Wal-Mart has developed partnerships with suppliers to keep its prices low. In addition, Wal-Mart executives do not spend money on anything that does not add value to the business and they do not believe in frivolous expenses. When managers or executives travel, they still share hotel rooms! This allows the company to keep its expenses as low as possible so that it can afford to price its products so low. Customers respond to Wal-Mart’s promise of “Every Day Low Prices,” and shop there because they know that they will save between 15-20%. Wal-Mart keeps to its low promise. In addition, Wal-Mart focused on opening stores in small, “one-horse” towns. By doing this, the company capitalized on the needs of the citizens by providing affordable products at a convenient location. Often these towns could only support one store like Wal-Mart and because of this the company was able to bar other companies from entering the local market. Wal-Mart also implements a successful distribution strategy, positioning its distribution centers within a day’s drive of each store to ensure prompt and efficient deliveries. Even with Sam Walton’s death, Wal-Mart executives continue to stick to the management rules Sam developed. Wal-Mart is successful not only because it makes sound strategic management decisions, but also for its innovative implementation of those strategic decisions. 2. What are some of the generic sources of a cost leadership strategy

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