Business Operation and Management: Walmart Case Study Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Walmart's business operations, encompassing key aspects such as accounting practices, human resource functions, and team development strategies. It delves into the importance of accounting for business success, examining how financial data is utilized to evaluate performance, manage cash flow, and aid in future planning. The report further explores the various functions carried out by the HR department, including recruitment, staffing, and employee relations, while also outlining key features of employee legislation. A profit and loss statement for Walmart is presented and interpreted, offering insights into the company's financial performance. Additionally, the report analyzes team development stages and motivational theories employed by Walmart's management, as well as the different leadership styles used by superiors. The report concludes by summarizing the key findings and referencing relevant sources.

How Business Operate

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
COVERED IN PPT.....................................................................................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................1
2.1 Importance of accounting for business success ...................................................................1
5.1 Different functions carried out by the HR department in a business....................................2
5.2 Key features of employee legislation....................................................................................2
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................3
3.1 Accounting workshop...........................................................................................................3
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................4
4.1 An analysis to determine own and other's roles of team members.......................................4
4.2 Team Development..............................................................................................................4
4.3 Motivational theories used by management of Walmart......................................................5
4.4 Different leadership style that are used by superiors of Sainsbury.......................................5
TASK 5............................................................................................................................................6
COVERED IN PPT.....................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Every organisation exist in environment which consists internal and external components
which directly or indirectly influence on business operations. Management require to utilise
funds, material and manpower so that items and services are delivered in according to needs and
wants of public. Firm includes human resource, finance, production, marketing and R&D units
which help administration to accomplish goals and objectives timely (Bernstein, 2015). Present
report is based on Walmart which is popular retail store established in UK. This assignment
specifies information about different forms of organisations which vary with each other in
respect to size, scope, structure and objective. Business functions are executed by members so
that appropriate items are provided to customers. This report also defines importance of
accounting and team development for success and growth of firm.
TASK 1
COVERED IN PPT
TASK 2
2.1 Importance of accounting for business success
Finance is essential component which business person require to execute business
operations efficiently. Organisation everyday transactions are recorded, summarized,
interpretation and analysed by members. This help administration to have accurate and complete
information about expenses and income which are computed from business. In Walmart,
accounting process is conducted by finance unit, so quantitative data is communicated by
executives to investors and stakeholders (Mackey and Sisodia, 2014). These are various benefits
that accounting have on firms and system functionality are defined beneath:
Evaluating the performance of business: Profit & loss account and balance sheet is
constituted by firms which helps management to examine cost incurred and gains. This help
seniors to analyse growth of Walmart by comparing current financial statements from previous
years.
Managing and monitoring of cash flow: Accounting process helps finance unit to have
appropriate information about flow of capital in different activities, so that funds are utilised
appropriately (Warner, 2018).
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Assist in creating budget and future: Walmart's finance statement helps administration
to take appropriate decisions and choose appropriate alternatives which are beneficial for firm.
Along this, management even require to use funds for future activities.
5.1 Different functions carried out by the HR department in a business
In every organisation, employer consists essential role as their responsibility is to have
adequate manpower; so that business operations are conducted appropriately. Human resource
practices are executed by management of Walmart which help company to deliver appropriate
items and services in marketplace; thereby generate adequate profits from business. These are
various functions that are performed by HR unit are defined below:
 Recruitment: Internal and external approaches are used by manager to employ
appropriate individuals in firm. Promotion, transfer and former workers are various
techniques which help employer to motivate and inspire existing members (Doppelt,
2017). While placement agencies, campus recruitment and media advertisement are used
by Walmart to attract candidates from outside and employ new joiners.
 Staffing: Employer conduct group discussion, aptitude test and interview to acknowledge
skills and abilities of applicant, thereby recruit them accordingly. This help management
to have adequate workforce in Walmart so that appropriate business operations are
executed.
 Employee relations: Human resource conduct meetings, conferences and seminars to
provide accurate and complete information to members about duties and tasks assigned to
them. Along this, staff are given positive working environment and appropriate working
conditions to motivate and make them dedicated towards job (Palattella and et. al., 2016).
5.2 Key features of employee legislation
In UK, government frame laws and act to manage and regulate working of firms and
protect rights of individuals. Various employee legislations are constituted which help staff
members to get fair treatment and eliminate from being discriminated on grounds of gender, sex,
race, caste and religion. In Walmart, equality, employment and discrimination are various act
that are considered by employer before making policies to provide safe working conditions;
thereby make them function effectively. Members are given duties on basis of their skills and
abilities; along this, they were given compensation and opportunities in respect to their
performance and outcomes generated by them. This benefits Walmart to retain skilled and
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competent subordinates for longer period by giving them adequate wages, environment and
working hours (Adjei and et. al., 2014).
TASK 3
3.1 Accounting workshop
Profit and Loss Statement for Walmart for the year 2017
Income Statement All numbers in thousands
Revenue 2017
Total Revenue 485873000
Gross Profit 124617000
Cost of Revenue 361256000
Operating Expenses
Selling General and Administrative 101853000
Operating Income or Loss 22764000
Total Other Income/Expenses Net 100000
Interest Expense 2367000
Earnings Before Interest and Taxes 22864000
Income Before Tax 20497000
Income Tax Expense 6204000
Minority Interest 2737000
Net Income 13643000
Net Income Applicable To Common Shares 13643000
Interpretation: As per above report of Walsmart in the year 2017, total revenue gained by
company was 485873000; as cost of revenue was 361256000 and operating expenses was
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101853000. Business person had generated about 13643000 net income, as their gain after tax is
20497000 which is due to taxation rate of country (Omar, Leach and March, 2014).
TASK 4
4.1 An analysis to determine own and other's roles of team members
In enterprises, team is an essential component which helps administration to execute
activities effectively, thereby timely attain goals and objectives. Group benefits superiors to
utilise workforce, as team consists different kinds of people some have good capabilities and
others might not have same efficiency. But, as members work in team; therefore targets are
completed timely.
I was able to enhance my communication skills as team development requires continuous
interaction with members to keep them connected by job. Along this, my leadership skills are
improves as for making employees perform tasks effectively; proper instruction and guidance
required to be given by me. Besides these all, I inherent interpersonal ability as friendly relations
was constituted with employees to motivate them and keep them dedicated towards duties.
4.2 Team Development
Every organisation consists various departments such as human resource, production,
finance, marketing, research and development. These units help administration to execute
business operations effectively and deliver appropriate items and services in marketplace (Petro
and Gardiner, 2015). Along this, team development helps management to utilise funds, material
and manpower efficiently. These are various stages that are followed by seniors to divide people
and frame group are as follows:
Forming: This tactic defines that administration divide manpower and group individuals
in according to their skills and abilities. This help organisation to make members perform tasks
effectively and accomplish goals and objectives timely.
Storming: This is part of team development which consists activities conducted by
seniors to construct relations with subordinates and build their mind towards duties assigned to
them. Brainstorming is technique used by manager to allot appropriate roles and responsibilities
to workforce.
Norming: Management formulate strategies and tactics to direct workforce and
acknowledge their ideas and thoughts to ascertain about their dedication towards job.
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Performing: It is last step which defines that staff members conduct activities to attain
targets within specifies time (Reim, Parida and Örtqvist, 2015).
4.3 Motivational theories used by management of Walmart
Superiors provide adequate working environment and conditions to members to make
them perform tasks effectively. Along this, management provide adequate facilities such as
compensation, recognition and awards to increase morale of employees and inspire them towards
job. These are various motivation theories which are used by seniors of Walmart are discussed
below:
Maslow's Need hierarchy theory: This model defines that physiological, safety, social,
esteem and self actualisation are various needs that individuals want to accomplish from their
work. Administration should provide adequate wages to members so that they are able to execute
appropriate living standards (Amit and Zott, 2015).
Herzberg's motivation hygiene theory: This concept includes two forms of tactics, that is
satisfaction and dissatisfaction components. Achievement, growth, promotion, recognition are
various factors require to be given by administration to increase morale of employees. Positive
working environment, job security, adequate salary, construct relations are various essential
things which are must to be provided to members; otherwise subordinates will not work
appropriately.
McClelland's Need Theory: This is another motivation model which determine that
employees are working in organisation to fulfil their needs and wants. Members want their work
to be recognised and appreciated by seniors; along this they even want to have relations with
superiors and co-workers. At last, they even desire to get power in firm as they are working for
long time with full determination (Bernstein, 2015).
4.4 Different leadership style that are used by superiors of Sainsbury
Autocratic, democratic and laissez- faire are various forms of leadership style which are
used by superiors on basis of their abilities and organisation. In Walmart, democratic style is
used by leader to motivate and inspire employees towards duties. As, it is retail store so members
have accurate information about taste and preferences of public. Thus, administration will be
able to take appropriate decisions and judgements for company (Mackey and Sisodia, 2014).
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TASK 5
COVERED IN PPT
CONCLUSION
As per above report, it can be comprehended that administration considers internal and
external factors such as government, shareholders, employees, suppliers, technology and
competitors while designing system. Management uses motivation theories and leadership styles
to increase morale of employees and inspire them towards job. This help superiors to make staff
members perform tasks effectively and attain targets timely. Along this, company deliver quality
products and services which help members to retain customers for longer period; thereby
enhance sales and profitability.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Adjei, H., and et. al., 2014. Assessing the Corporate Social Responsibility Activities of Atwima
Kwawoman Rural Bank Limited and its Impact on the Communities it Operates.
European Journal of Business and Innovation Research. 2(4). pp.36-47.
Amit, R. and Zott, C., 2015. Crafting business architecture: The antecedents of business model
design. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal. 9(4). pp.331-350.
Bernstein, M. H., 2015. Regulating business by independent commission. Princeton University
Press.
Doppelt, B., 2017. Leading change toward sustainability: A change-management guide for
business, government and civil society. Routledge.
Mackey, J. and Sisodia, R., 2014. Conscious capitalism, with a new preface by the authors:
Liberating the heroic spirit of business. Harvard Business Review Press.
Omar, A.T., Leach, D. and March, J., 2014. Collaboration between nonprofit and business
sectors: A framework to guide strategy development for nonprofit organizations.
VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations. 25(3).
pp.657-678.
Palattella, M. R., and et. al., 2016. Internet of things in the 5G era: Enablers, architecture, and
business models. IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications. 34(3). pp.510-
527.
Petro, Y. and Gardiner, P., 2015. An investigation of the influence of organizational design on
project portfolio success, effectiveness and business efficiency for project-based
organizations. International Journal of Project Management. 33(8). pp.1717-1729.
Reim, W., Parida, V. and Örtqvist, D., 2015. Product–Service Systems (PSS) business models
and tactics–a systematic literature review. Journal of Cleaner Production. 97. pp.61-75.
Warner, K., 2018. Building rules: How local controls shape community environments and
economies. Routledge.
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