In the contemporary business environment
Firm owners are forced to adopt strategies that gain them competitiveness. However, the intensified market condition requires that companies have to earn a sustainable competitive edge that aims at being the best in practice within a specific industry. Walmart is among the largest multination retail companies in the world employing over 2.2 million people worldwide. To achieve this position, it has various strategies that make it outstanding. First, Walmart uses the segmentation strategy to pinpoint its customers. Through this approach, the firm can understand the changing demand and purchasing behaviors by analyzing the demographic and psychographic data; hence they can customize their products towards the requirements of the customers. Secondly, the retail store uses the "lead-on-price" approach in attracting more customers by appealing to low-end and high-end clientele base (Ravi. 2015). To achieve this milestone, the company focuses on the suppliers through the development and that fact that it buys goods in bulk, it gains the advantages of the economies of scale.
Walmart Abuse Crisis
Despite the massive progress, Walmart has several abuse crises between its management, the employees, and the external stakeholders. The first incidence of abuse emanates from Walmart rule regarding sick leave. A report published by The New York Times indicates that the company often refuses to accept physicians' note and hence ends up penalizing employees for absenteeism on the grounds of medical cases (Abrams, 2017). This approach is a form of abuse since employees are entitled to leaves to seek medical attention and take care of their families. Besides, the abuse crises extend to issues related to remuneration in the company and too much focus on the penny-pinching attitude. Crises are effected since the firm has always been against the organized labor inhibiting the ability to improve the livelihood of its workers (Abrams, 2017).
References
Abrams, R. (2017). Walmart Is Accused of Punishing Workers for Sick Days. The New York Times. Retrieved November 24, 2018 from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/01/business/walmart-workers-sick-days.html
Ravi. J. (2015). What is the business strategy and business model of Walmart? How did they grow so big so fast? Retrieved November 24, 2018, from https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-business-strategy-and-business-model-of-Walmart-How-did-they-grow-so-big-so-fast
