Nowadays, China has an extensive consumer market and its marketing channel industry has an extreme potential. Therefore, the worldwide top 50 companies have entered into this market, which also includes a lot of local retailing companies. This thesis focus on analyzing American retailer ¡§Wal-mart, which shows the ¡§Wal-mart pyramid¡¨ and the¡§Wal-mart successful model ¡§ . According to this pyramid and successful model, this study describes in detail every element which makes Wal-mart reach it¡¦s vision ¡§ low cost circles¡¨. There are three parts in this thesis. First , this study depicts ¡§Wal-mart successful model ¡§ from the beginning of selecting store positions, operating store plans, merchandize, selling, purchasing and transporting ,which form the company¡¦s fundamental capabilities. With these capabilities , the company¡¦s culture and efficient management system , Wal-mart fulfills the goal of ¡¥¡¦low cost circles¡¨. Second, describing the store distributions in China and finding out the problems Wal-mart has encountered there. Because these problems include store distributions, store types, merchandize, selling, channels, IT, the relationship with suppliers and managing staff , Wal-mart has to find out the environment elements which influence the Wal-mart management model. Therefore, on the basis of these environment elements , Wal-mart adjusts the American management model into China management model in order to adapt the local environment. For example : changing selecting store position principles, changing store types in certain environment, changing the merchandises¡¦ decorations, changing selling mode, applying local purchase, diminishing transport cost, utilizing IT and building promotion and train system. Third , using the latest financial reports of Wal-mart to confer the Wal-mart management model and the changing of the model after entering into China .These financial items include the cost of sales, operating , selling and general and administrative expenses, the days of inventories and the days of receivables . Furtheremore, according to the financial reports of Careffour and local retailing Hua-lian, this thesis compares the differences in management strategies among these three companies . Finally , this thesis classifies the management correction model of Wal- mart in China and find out the competitive advantage of Wal-mart in China.

This research aims to interrogate the question of “Challenges and Opportunities: The Wal-Mart Effect In South Africa”. The research aims to investigate the potential effect that Wal-Mart will have on labour, the local economy and consumers in South Africa. This is in the broader context of neo-liberal globalisation. The key findings regarding stakeholders’ engagement around the issues of Wal-Mart’s arrival and the role of the state, the resistance by local and international trade unions, the detrimental effects on the local and informal economies, the failure of the South African macro-economic policy environment and the positive effect that Wal-Mart will have on consumers are all presented and analysed. The key message that emerges is that neo-liberal policies in South Africa have eroded labour rights, and hampered the development of the local economy. Although Wal-Mart’s arrival could exacerbate this, it simultaneously provides a springboard for resistance and a unique opportunity to rethink the policy framework of the country. In a country with high levels of poverty, Wal-Mart may force local retailers to become increasingly competitive and to provide goods to consumers at a lower cost – which is obviously something that will benefit local consumers. Furthermore Wal-Mart’s strength is in its systems and processes which is something that could benefit South African companies as they learn from the giant retailer. Wal-Mart’s entry into South Africa will have to be carefully managed and monitored to ensure the maximum benefit for all stakeholders, and to limit the adverse effects of the retail giant.

The growing importance of emerging markets in the global economy leads many multinationals (MNEs) to explore and expand into them. Saturation and slow growth in home markets, coupled with rising incomes in emerging markets, has also accelerated retail internationalisation. These markets are generally unfamiliar to the predominantly western firms, and they come with intractable social problems, where resultant stakeholder activism abounds.The purpose of this study was to investigate stakeholder management during entry of a retailer, Wal-Mart, into an emerging market, South Africa, in order to draw lessons that could be of use to other MNEs seeking to enter similar emerging markets. The method used for the study was a qualitative archival analysis that relied on publicly available sources, namely the regulatory bodies, parliament, press releases and the print media.The research found that the key stakeholders during the entry of Wal-Mart into South Africa were the government and trade unions. Government and trade unions were concerned that Wal-Mart’s entry would lead to an increase in imports and displace local producers, in turn worsening South Africa’s unemployment crisis. It was also feared that Wal-Mart would seek to change the existing labour regime in order to marginalise trade unions and lower labour standards. The research found that stakeholder management was poor and highlights the importance of integrating stakeholder management strategy into the broader entry strategy into developing markets. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

Det krävs mycket av kommuner när ett stort företag ska etablera sig i staden. Främst behövs stor satsning på planering av infrastruktur då stora företag lockar många konsumenter och upptar stor yta. Uppsatsens syfte var att undersöka hur städer planerar för en företagsetablering. Studien utgick från en fallstudie där Borlänge kommun planerade inför IKEAs etablering och varför de valde att satsa på denna etablering. Fallstudien jämfördes med hur städer i USA planerar för en etablering av Wal-Mart. Detta för att få en generell uppfattning om hur städer kan planera för stora företagsetableringar. En kvalitativ undersökning genomfördes med intervjuer, observation och genomgång av relevant litteratur. Reslutatet visar att Borlänge var tvungna att riva och flytta ett industriområde för att IKEA skulle få önskad plats. Sedan var de tvungna att planera om vägar för att trafiken skulle fungera så bra som möjligt. Kommunen var mån om att IKEA skulle etablera sig i staden för att tydligare kunna marknadsföra sig som en handelsstad. I observationen noterades att trafiken flöt på bra vid handelsområdet. Jämförelsen med Wal-Mart visar mer skillnader än likheter. Det som kan sägas generellt om hur städer planerar för stora företagsetableringar är att infrastrukturen påverkas oerhört och måste oftast planeras om.

This study examines the Islamic concept of Al-Wala’ wal Bara’ (Loyalty and Disavowal) in modern Salafism referred to here as WB. The research is divided into two parts. Part One introduces the phenomenon of modern Salafism and the concept of WB (Chapter One). It also demonstrates how the Quran, particularly its sixtieth chapter (Surah Al-Mumtahanah) and the concept of Millat Ibrahim (Religion of Abraham) play an important role in formulating the modern Salafi concept of WB (Chapter Two). Part Two discusses the realities and complexities of the concept. First, the concept in Wahhabism, whose adherents form the majority of modern Salafis, and whose tradition is believed to have influenced and shaped modern Salafism, is discussed (Chapter Three). The complexities of WB are described as the research recognizes the diversity or “spectrum” of the concept in modern Salafism, which ranges from what might be termed “very mild” to “very extreme” (Chapter Four). The research shows that one of the main reasons for this diversity is the different Salafi orientations or the backgrounds from which modern Salafis emerge. This is proven through analyzing the writings on WB by Salafis of purist, politico and Jihadi backgrounds – a specific categorization of modern Salafis used for the purpose of this research (Chapter Five). The analysis is conducted by mainly observing the role of WB within their intellectual systems. Through this analysis, it is concluded that a particular Salafi orientation has an effect on the style of writing and presentation of the concept by modern Salafis. This reflects the position of WB in modern Salafism as being fluid and multi-dimensional. The research then, aims to explore the centrality, breadth and complexity of the WB concept in modern Salafism, and proves that WB in modern Salafism is not static but flexible and dynamic. The significance of the research lies in the fact that understanding modern Salafi conceptions of WB is an urgent priority in the lives of Muslims today. This understanding is critical, as Muslims increasingly live as minority communities across the globe and WB has specific implications for whether (and how) Muslims can live with non-Muslims. The research concludes that the consequences of applying the modern Salafi concept of WB are serious – WB generally promotes a way of life that is insular and hostile towards non-Muslims and this, it might be argued, is at variance with more tolerant, inclusive nature of Islam.

V posledních letech dochází v mezinárodní distribuční politice k dynamickým změnám. Maloobchodní řetězce se začínají stávat dominantními firmami jak na svých domácích, tak i na mezinárodních trzích. Jejich podnikatelské aktivity přitom v mnoha případech přímo ovlivňují ekonomiku celého státu. Mezi nejúspěšnější společnosti světa patří americká společnost Wal Mart, největší firma na světě z hlediska docilovaného obratu a francouzský Carrefour, největší distribuční společnost na evropském trhu. Hlavním cílem diplomové práce je analýza strategických konceptů těchto společností a faktorů, které jejich úspěch podmínily. Na základě komparace zvolených strategických přístupů jsou identifikovány jejich hlavní výhody a slabiny.

Retail geography is an expanding field that is becoming increasingly important within academia, the business environment, and the national and global economy. The focus of this study is to provide insight and additional understanding of the site selection processes employed by Wal-Mart in the United States. The research studies Wal-Mart from a national perspective and investigates the patterns of retail store expansion across the United States from 1990 to 2005. The study employs the use of a continuous Poisson model to check for significant clustering, and a single and multiple correlation analysis to identify the types of relationships that exist between retail stores and location. The results of the study make apparent several distinct patterns of retail store dispersion within the United States between the years 1990 to 2005.

Wal Mart, which contains nation's largest private employers (1.2 million workers), sellers of retail goods($280 billion), and owner of corporate real estate(911 million square feet), is now locally and globally getting more dominant. Its simple but straight forward strategy is enough to make customers' pockets open and buy goods. However, these strategies are also getting bumped into the risks for high quality oriented markets which have been targeted for upper income class. Furthermore, on the reason that maintains enormously occupied box storage concept outside the town, Wal Mart is blamed for making the town more boundless and uncharacteristic as well as killing many retail shops in downtown. Architecturally. reconsidering Wal Mart to be more distinctively balancing to proper urban issues and practical designs is now more imperative than ever. Therefore, this thesis work will be new grope of possibilities of that Wal Mart can be futurally constructive being more friendly approached to the town and communities in a revitalization view of rural towns. / Master of Architecture

This thesis focuses on the impact of a mega-store on the existing businesses in a specific area--Magazine Street in New Orleans. The potential mega-store is a 200,000 square foot Wal-Mart Supercenter that is part of the retail component of the St. Thomas housing re-development. The focus of this project is the retail competition that might be generated by this mega-store. Businesses were studied and placed into categories as either direct or indirect competitors to the mega-store. Previous research identified certain categories of store types that could be impacted (either positively or negatively) by the location of national stores in their communities. These categories were used to determine the impact that Wal-Mart might have on businesses on Magazine Street. Business owners were surveyed to determine how they thought they would be impacted. In the opinions of the business owners, the overall impact that a Wal-Mart would have on Magazine Street businesses would be negative. The surveys do show, however, mixed attitudes among the Magazine Street business owners toward Wal-Mart's coming.

This thesis presents an analysis of the potential of RFID-technology with a special focus on implementations at retailers. By analysing the RFID-roll outs of Wal-Mart and Metro the thesis outlines the necessary characteristics of a retail supply chain to successfully implement RFID. The changes in a retail supply chain as a consequence of an RFIDimplementation are summarized and a detailed comparison with the two case studies is given. It shows that Wal-Mart's and Metro's supply chain correlate to a great extent with the typology beneficial to a successful RFID-implementation. Nevertheless, a conclusion on the success or failure of the roll-outs can not be drawn yet. Future developments will very much be dependent on the widespread implementation of RFID in other companies and industries and on the acceptance by the public. (author's abstract) / Series: Schriftenreihe des Instituts für Transportwirtschaft und Logistik - Logistik