Wal-Marts Vision Statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Wal-Marts Vision Statement - Essay Example The company’s main stakeholders are the shareholders, customers, and employees (Wal-mart, 2008). This report focuses on the backbone of the company the employees. The aim is to understand the current situation of the employees and whether the company’s vision is helping the employees achieve the objectives. Wal – Mart has wide operations spread across 14 markets, 7390 Wal – Mart stores. The company employees over 2 million associates. It is the largest employer in America. The company claims to give importance to the employee’s growth and careers. The company’s website claims to provide the employees with a competitive pay, skills development and health benefits for the employee and family. However, a recent article in Business Week highlighted the fact that the company has been paying employees about $8.23 per hour, or $13,861 a year. This pay is well below the federal poverty line of $14, 630 for a family of three. Other articles and studies have shown that the company pays employees a salary which is way below the poverty line and employees have confessed that they cannot live out of the pay received from Wal – Mart alone. The average hours worked by employees is around 40 hours a week. However the pay received is very low and for some of the employees, it is just enough to live out of a Dodge truck (Greenhouse, 2005). The employee’s goals, however, are very different. Employees benefit from a company that is making profits which in turn would mean the employees being paid higher salaries and bonuses. From the above discussion, it is clear that employees do not receive any extra benefits in spite of the company making profits. A study showed that even though employees were given hikes in salary they did not really benefit from the hikes. Wal – Mart has instituted a new payment method.  

IMAGO Architects - Academic Writing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

IMAGO Architects - Academic Writing - Assignment Example However, before customers can be identified, it is very important that a market research is to be conducted about the possibility of selling the latest Imago Architects design: a laminated glass staircase that appears to float. This paper will proceed to indicate what market research is, how to conduct one, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of conducting a market research. Market research is a tool for businesses to determine the needs or demands of the market, size, and competition (McQuarrie, 2005). There are several types of markets and can be divided in several segments but for the purpose of marketing the floating glass staircase of Imago Architects, it will limit segmentation samples to what may or may not be applicable for the targeted market. Market segment for the floating staircase may be classified for their price (affordability) or design preferences. Upon defining various market segments, Imago will need to undertake product differentiation. Imago will need present the floating staircase as something unique yet desirable to its targeted market. One major concept to be exploited is as a â€Å"state of the art† product for interior design wherein technophile groups or market segment may be targeted. It is then important to define the group or market segment. Various market segments may be categorized into geographic differences, personality differences, demographic differences such as gender, age, among others. In defining the market segment, the market researcher will need to explore what are the basic demographic data of the target market or even individuals in that market segment. These data include income bracket, age, profession or source of income, area of residence, where this person shops, his family status, hobbies, preferences in consumption, activities, and many others. These are important in order to determine the ways in which marketing communication