Strategic Operations Management
WAL-MART CHINA: SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS STRATEGY
This case study focuses on aspects of Wal-Mart China’s operations in the context of the company’s desire to improve sustainability appropriate for its China’s operations. The main and immediate concern is how to define sustainability for the business and identify opportunities to improve Wal-Mart China’s operations for this purpose.
The following questions will help you to analyse the case. Using the case material provided and other resources explore the case and provide your views and analysis. Some further sources of information are given at the end of this document.
1- Explore through the literature the concept of (Business) sustainability and explain it briefly. Also using references on Operations Strategy describe what sustainability in operations strategy means.
[30 marks]
2- Discuss what “Sustainability” means to Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart China, and Wal-Mart China’s current and potential customers. What would you see to be a balanced definition of sustainability for the business? [Hint: comment first, why do, according to the case, customers in China patronise Wal-Mart China stores.]
[30 marks]
3- Identify the distinguishing features of Wal-Mart China’s distribution system and operations. Explain how it achieves relatively high availability with similar levels of stock to other companies.
[30 marks]
4- How sustainability should be incorporated in the process of selection and evaluation of suppliers/vendors?
[20 marks]
5- How sustainability can be improved in Wal-Mart’s distribution and retail operations. [Hint: consider both cost saving and innovative initiatives].
[30 marks]
Total available mark is 150 including 10 marks for report presentation. This assignment will contribute 40% of the final module mark.
Note: make sure that you appropriately cite any additional material used to support your analysis.
Report guideline:
You should be aiming to produce a report within 2000-2500 words size, or EIGHT pages (main body).
Other readings relevant to the case:
• Literature on sustainability and its implication for supply chain and retail operations
• Books and articles on sustainable operations in China (Zhu and Sarkis; Zhu and Geng; Zhu et al)
• Media articles on Wal-Mart China operations (Huffman)
• Wal-Mart websites
• Literature on innovative approaches in supply chain development such as Capgemini; Aberdeen Group.
• Studies of Wal-Mart and China’s operations.