Gap Inc. opened with a single store in 1969. Located near San Francisco State University, Gap initially sold only Levi’s blue jeans, along with tapes and records. The company soon expanded its product offerings to include clothing for men, women, and children. Gap went public in 1976 and was one of the largest selling apparel brands worldwide by the early 1990s. The firm has expanded horizontally by using both acquisition strategies and internal development.

Working in groups of 5–7 persons, answer the following questions.

You should use corporate documents available on the firm’s Web site (http://www.gapinc.com), supplemented as needed by news articles.

Describe Gap’s emphasis on acquisition versus internal development.

Between 2006 and 2007, how well have the different divisions of Gap performed?

What restructuring has the company undertaken? Would you recommend additional restructuring? Why?