Wal-Mart the Capital APA Format Sixth Edition
Lucinda West
BUS310
May 7, 2012
Christopher McGrath
Strayer University

Wal-Mart the Capital
Describe the nature of the organization, its size, and any specific Human Resource challenges it faces.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc’s head quarter is located on 702 S.W. 8th Street in Bentonville, Arkansas 727120116. The founder of the store is Sam Walton, the first opening was in 1962; today there are 629 stores world-wide. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is a retailer of a wide range of merchandise at discounted prices operating more than 9,000 retail units under 60 different banners in 15 countries. (Company information 2012).
The size of an average store is 108,000 square feet. Each store employees 225 associates. As of January 1, 2011 Wal-mart employees approximately 2,100,000 full-time employees. The company’s operations are comprised of three business segments: Wal-mart U.S; International; and Sam’s Club.
Wal-mart Sizes
Wal-mart U.S. operates retail stores in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, with supercenters in 48 states and Puerto Rico. Supercenters range in size from 80,000 square feet to 260,000 sq. ft. Consumers can also purchase various merchandise and services online at www.walmart.com. Wal-mart U.S. does business in six strategic merchandise units: grocery, entertainment, hard lines, health and wellness, apparel and home. Wal-Mart U.S. also offers financial services and products; which include bill payment.
Wal-mart International is comprised of its wholly-owned subsidiaries operating in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Japan, and the U.K. The majority of its subsidiaries operating in Chile, Mexico and five countries in Central America; with joint ventures in India and China.
Wal-mart International retail centers generally range in size from 2,000 sq. ft. to 250,000 sq. ft. The whole sale stores range in size from 40,000 sq. ft. to 150,000 sq. ft.
Sam’s Clubs are in 48 states and Puerto Rico. Sizes ranges between 71,000 sq. ft. and 190,000 sq. ft.
Human Resources Challenges
Matching employees with the right skills and competence, conducting the correct analysis of each employee’s abilities in order to assign the most accurate responsibilities, implementing various forms of rewarding systems, adequate performance feedback, low wages, sparse benefits packages, an absorbent amount of time spent mending conflicts and its repercussions and poor styles of communication. [ (Thinking Made Easy, 2010) ]
Describe the major legal concerns of the organization and recommend how those concerns should be addressed
Legal Concerns
Some of the major legal concerns for Wal-mart are revelations regarding bribes allegedly paid by its Mexican subsidiary to local officials. [ (Carney, 2012) ]. The alleged scheme would be a major violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, a U.S. law that prohibits bribes to foreign officials. Not only the bribe itself but also, allegedly, one of the participants in the scheme was a part of the internal investigative team. Also the person whose signature is on the paper work to close the investigation is a part of the scheme.
Recommendations
Based on the information received, the organization should form their own separate investigative team from outside of the company to investigate the people involved in the scheme. This would eliminate the possibilities of any kind of favoritism. Once all of the facts have been uncovered and formulated; the parties that participated in the alleged scheme would have to come before a panel to give their account of what role they played.
If the participants could not prove their case before the panel, they would be given the opportunity to resign or retire depending on their age and time with the organization. Once they no longer have any connection with the company they will be turned over to the authorities for further investigation.
Should the participants be found to have acted on their own accord and not