Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of Wal-Mart in the United States

Abstract

Wal-Mart is a dominant force in the retail industry. Wal-Mart is the largest employer in the United States and the retail giant that has the clout to send suppliers scurrying for cover or jumping for joy. Wal-Mart, like any company, has its unique set of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. This paper reviews the strengths of Wal-Mart’s clarity of vision, pervasive culture that supports the vision, work ethic expectations, customer understanding of low prices, sustainable growth, supply chain, and store level decision making. These are offset primarily by Wal-Mart’s poor public image. This is also Wal-Mart’s biggest opportunity – improving public image. Some of the biggest threats to Wal-Mart include Target and the Dollar Channel as well as economic shifts. Overall, Wal-Mart is a healthy company with some challenges in the future.