Walmart Information Systems

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Walmart Information Systems

Founded in 1962 by Sam Walton, Walmart has grown to be the largest retailer on the globe. Driven by Mr. Walton’s 10 rules to build a business, Walmart promises to “save people money so they can live better (Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2014)”. One of those rules is to “control your expenses better than your competition (Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2014)”. Walmart is recognized as leader in incorporating cutting edge information systems and processes that drive out costs and provide advantage over their competitors. In order to maintain their spot at the top of the global retailers list, Walmart continually seeks to improve the technology used to ensure they maintain competitive advantage, efficiently process data, and ensure business continuity and security.

Competitive Advantage

Competitive advantage is a driving force in Walmart’s business model. With 2.2 million associates, 10,700 retail stores and 245 million customers served weekly in 27 countries, Walmart requires an array of information systems functioning harmoniously to meet all of the requirements and expectations of their employees, customers and communities (Walmart, 2013). Mr. Walton believed that sharing profits with and motivating employees and partners were rules of building a business. Sam Walton once said that “our people make a difference” referring to the associates that he viewed as partners that should share in the profits of the company (Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 2014). Walmart associates process hundreds of millions transactions every week in their retail stores. However, the retail store is only one component of Walmart’s vast supply chain and logistics network which are largely responsible for their continued success. D...

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...p://www.continuityinsights.com/articles/2006/02/walmart-beyond-business-continuity-basics

Schuman, E. (2004, 10 13). At Wal-Mart, Worlds Largest Retail Data Warehouse Gets Even Larger. Retrieved from eWeek: http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Enterprise-Applications/At-WalMart-Worlds-Largest-Retail-Data-Warehouse-Gets-Even-Larger/

Walmart. (2013). Information Systems Division. Retrieved from Walmart: http://jobs.walmart.com/articles/isd

Walmart. (2013). Walmart 2013 Annual Report. Retrieved from Walmart: http://stock.walmart.com/microsites/annual-report-2013/pdf/Walmart_2013_AR.pdf

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (2014). 10 Rules for Building a Business. Retrieved from Walmart: http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/history/10-rules-for-building-a-business

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (2014). Sam Walton. Retrieved from Walmart: http://corporate.walmart.com/our-story/history/sam-walton

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