WalMart

Read Chapters 4 and 5 in the text and the Wal*Mart 2013 Global Responsibility Report, which is available at: http://corporate.walmart.com/global-responsibility/environment-sustainability/global-responsibility-report

Below are the discussion questions for the Wal*Mart case study. As I mentioned in class, use these questions as a guide, but feel free to explore other topics that interest you. I am most interested in reading your opinion, supported with concepts that we’ve read and discussed in class ( chapter 2-11-10-13-15-17).
reading available at http://www.untag-smd.ac.id/files/Perpustakaan_Digital_1/CORPORATE%20SOCIAL%20RESPONSIBILITY%20The%20Debate%20Over%20Corporate%20Social%20Responsibility.pdf

Target limit should be about 1.5-2 pages, normal formatting.

Case Study Questions

Based on your pre-existing opinion of Wal-Mart, was there anything in the Report that surprised you?

In its rhetoric, does Wal-Mart embrace the shareholder view of the corporation, or the stakeholder view of the corporation? What are some examples of that?

Was there anything that you thought was a sincere effort at corporate social responsibility? Was there anything that seemed to be marketing and image? Examples?

Is Wal-Mart’s corporate citizenship effort proactive or reactive? Is it voluntary, reluctant or strategic? What are some examples?

Comment on the mix of presentations – statements of goals and principles vs. individual/community stories vs. metrics and data. Which are more effective? Which are less effective? How do you think these examples were chosen?

How is Wal-Mart’s sustainability efforts international in scope? What were some specific country initiatives that impressed you? Disappointed you?

Did your opinion of Wal-Mart change at all? How so?

B) Choose a financial ratio that applies to the balance sheet (eg Current Ratio, Debt to Equity ratio, Inventory Turnover, etc.). Describe the ratio. What does the ratio measure? Is a large number good or bad? How is it trending? What does your analysis indicate about the company (what steps might management need to take, how does it impact overall strategy)?

Example: Let’s say you do “Inventory” and you define it, talk about the ways accountants can financially value the inventory and discuss the recent trends and results at your company. As part of the analysis you see inventory levels rising very dramatically and you are concerned that this is not healthy and warrants management attention. Feel free to expand your post by bringing in an article that discussed ways to reduce the investment in inventory…..or an example of a company that neglected to focus and properly manage inventory that created significant cash issues. In other words, feel free to use some “poetic license” around your topic to add substance and bring additional learnings in to the forum.