Walmart, the world's largest retailer, is a mega-business with more than 11,700 retail units in 28 countries and approximately 2.3 million associates around the world. That's a lot of employees to manage! Its most recent annual revenues were more than $485.3 billion with profits of more than $13.6 billion. Because of its position as the United States's largest private employer, Walmart often finds itself at the center of controversy over employee-related issues, from sick day policies⁴⁰ to wage concerns.⁴¹ However, in 2016, the company created its Walmart Academy training program, a program intended to help those employees in lower-level management positions be more successful in their careers. Currently, there are some 100 of these academies across the United States. Since its inception, more than 150,000 store supervisors and department managers have gone through the weeks-long training.⁴²

Helping employees take charge of their careers!

What does the training include? Topics cover advanced retail skills, including merchandising, ordering, and inventory control, plus managerial skills, including better communication and motivating employees. All management training is designed with the goal of helping transform the in-store shopping experience into a consistently positive one. As the industry faces increasing competitive pressures from Amazon and other online sellers, brick-and-mortar retailers are being forced to provide customers with something that makes the customer want

Walmart, the world's largest retailer, is a mega-business with more than 11,700 retail units in 28 countries and approximately 2.3 million associates around the world. That's a lot of employees to manage! Its most recent annual revenues were more than $485.3 billion with profits of more than $13.6 billion. Because of its position as the United States's largest private employer, Walmart often finds itself at the center of controversy over employee-related issues, from sick day policies⁴⁰ to wage concerns.⁴¹ However, in 2016, the company created its Walmart Academy training program, a program intended to help those employees in lower-level management positions be more successful in their careers. Currently, there are some 100 of these academies across the United States. Since its inception, more than 150,000 store supervisors and department managers have gone through the weeks-long training.⁴²

Helping employees take charge of their careers!

What does the training include? Topics cover advanced retail skills, including merchandising, ordering, and inventory control, plus managerial skills, including better communication and motivating employees. All management training is designed with the goal of helping transform the in-store shopping experience into a consistently positive one. As the industry faces increasing competitive pressures from Amazon and other online sellers, brick-and-mortar retailers are being forced to provide customers with something that makes the customer want

Why would a company want employees in lower-level management positions to be more successful i their careers?

What benefits and challenges do you see to a training program such as this.

What additional mangerial topics might you suggest be coered in the walmart Acaemy training program?Think in terms of the three ways to look at what mangers do.

Many college graduates are reluctant to pursue a career in a retail organization even at the world largest.

Discusss how a company like walmart could attract talented graduates.

Does an organixzation have an ethhical responsibility to asst new managers transition into their positions? why or why not?