Competitive Strategy & Innovation: Walmart Presentation Analysis

This presentation provides a comprehensive analysis of Walmart's competitive strategy and innovation. It begins with an introduction and then delves into Walmart's core functions and activities, including warehousing, distribution, and in-store operations. The analysis highlights Walmart's sustainable competitive advantages, supported by financial data from 2003 to 2015, showcasing increasing net sales, gross margins, and net income. The presentation also addresses the challenges Walmart faces, such as employee and customer safety and effective distribution, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, it suggests measures needed for continuous sustainable performance, including regular sanitization and partnerships with local producers. The presentation concludes by emphasizing the importance of innovation and core business functions in achieving and maintaining a competitive edge.

COMPETITIVE
STRATEGY AND
INNOVATION

CONTENT
 Introduction
 Main Body
 Walmart’s principal functions and activities
 Walmart’s competitive advantage sustainability
 Walmart financial summary 2003 to 2015
 Challenges facing by Walmart
 Measures which are needed to take for continuous sustainable
performance
 Conclusion

INTRODUCTION
Innovation refers as the aspect of introducing new
determinants which are different from previous ones and
attached with new distinctive features. There is huge role
of this concept within organisations towards attainment of
competitive advantage in market. Further, the organisation
considered for analysis in this direction is Walmart.

DETERMINATION OF THE
WALMART’S PRINCIPAL
FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES
Some common functions which are generally performed
within all type of business organisations includes human
resource management, operational activities, financial
functions, marketing activities, research and development
functions, customer relationship management, distribution
activities etc.

CONTINUE
 Warehousing and distribution: Since the 1980s, Walmart has been a
world chief in dissemination coordination’s. While most rebate retailers
depend intensely on their providers and outsider merchants for
circulation to their individual stores, 82% of Walmart's buys are sent to
Walmart's own dissemination communities from where they are
conveyed in Walmart trucks.
 In-store operations: Walmart's administration of its retail locations
depended on fulfilling clients by joining low costs, a wide scope of
value items carefully customized to client needs, and a satisfying
shopping experience.

ASCERTAINMENT OF THE WALMART’S
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE SUSTAINABILITY
 Increasing net sales: From the year 2003, there was continuous increase in
the net sales. In year 2003, the net sales were $230 billion which was
increased and reached the mark of $486 billion.
 Increasing Gross margin: There was continuous increase in the gross
margin rate of an organisation from year 2003 to 2015. In 2003, it was 22.6%
where reached the mark of 24.3% in year 2015.
 Increasing Net income: The net income of an organisation also continuously
increased from the year 2003 to 2015. In year 2003, it was $8 billion and
continuously increase in the upcoming years where reached the mark of $16.4
billion in year 2015.

WALMART FINANCIAL SUMMARY 2003 TO
2015 (YEAR ENDED JANUARY 31; FIGURES
IN $BILLION)
Therefore, it is clear from the above information that Walmart
has sustainable competitive advantage in market due to which
they able to attain the continues growth in all different aspects.
Also, organisation is able to build their effective recognized
international image where known all among society.

CHALLENGES FACING BY
WALMART
 Health safety of employees and customers: Due to the
impact of Covid-19, the major issue is related to the
safety of employees and customers.
 Effective distribution according to requirement: Due
to the issue of Covid-19, there is restriction regarding
the dissemination of goods from one place to another.

MEASURES WHICH ARE NEEDED TO
TAKE FOR CONTINUOUS
SUSTAINABLE PERFORMANCE
 Sanitisation: For effective safety of the employees and
consumers, Walmart has to focus over regular sanitisation.
This will help to reduce the spread the contamination of
virus from one to another.
 Tying up with local producers: Walmart need to tying up
with the local producers as this help in continuing the
dissemination of products to the stores according the
requirement and demand of consumers.

CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from the above report that there is huge
importance of innovation in ascertaining competitive advantage by
organisations. There is also the huge importance of principle functions
in strengthening the core structure of business from where they can
easily able to attain competitive edge. Ascertaining of competency is
important in performance of principle functions because it aid in
maintaining the sustainability on aspect of competitive edge.

REFERENCES
Chen, J. and Liu, L., 2019. Profiting from green innovation: The moderating
effect of competitive strategy. Sustainability. 11(1). p.15.
HAIYAN, D., AHMED, K. and NANERE, M., 2020. LIFE CYCLE,
COMPETITIVE STRATEGY, CONTINUOUS INNOVATION AND
FIRM PERFORMANCE. International Journal of Innovation
Management, p.2150004.
Salunke, S., Weerawardena, J. and McColl-Kennedy, J. R., 2019. The central
role of knowledge integration capability in service innovation-based
competitive strategy. Industrial Marketing Management. 76. pp.144-156.

THANK-YOU