Does Walmart Help or Hurt Local Economy - Case Study Example

Does Walmart Help or Hurt Local Economy? Project background The project aims at establishing influence of Walmart storesincorporation on the economy of United States and other host countries. The project would research on Walmart relations with its employees and government agencies. In addition, the project would seek to answer the questions of whether Walmart have improved economic status of its employees. Moreover, the project defines remarkable contributions of Walmart stores incorporation to the economy of Arkansas and living standards of its employees. In relation to corporate social responsibility, the project would seek to establish whether Walmart incorporations have influenced the development of smaller business stores existing in its vicinity. The project would take an estimated 30 days from start date. It would involve gathering information relating to influence of Walmart stores Incorporation to the society and its employees using questionnaires. The project would require an estimated cost of 27,000 U.S. dollars. Financing of the project would be sourced from personal contributions, government agencies, and Johnson and Wales University. It would also require recruitment of support staff who would assist in distributing questionnaires and guiding study subjects in answering questions outlined in the study. Company Background Walmart stores incorporation is the largest American multinational retail corporation with its main headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas. Walmart operates chains of large warehouses and discount department stores. The company that started in October 31, 1969 after initiatives of its founder Sam Walton operates in 11,000 stores in 27 countries worldwide (Antzen, Robert, Donn Pescatrice, and Andrew Braunstein). It operates in various countries under different names. In UK, for instance, the company has a name of Asda (Matusitz, Jonathan, and Laura Lord 82). The company exists the worldwide largest revenue collector. Walmart has the highest number of employees and boosts as the largest private employer internationally. The company has approximately two million employees and acts as the largest retailer in the world. The company is under management and ownership of Walton family. It is the largest grocery retailer in America is the all-time market value leader worldwide. Walmart have strived to maintain public image policies over the years. It initiated several environmental measures aimed at increasing energy efficiency in 2005. The aim of the initiative was to decrease emission of greenhouse gasses by its large number trucks that operated in United States. Despite environment initiatives, Walmart has experienced vast public criticism on environment degradation issues (Arden, Art, Charles Courtemanche, and Jeremy Meiners 112). Moreover, Walmart has experienced numerous employees’ strikes in demand of better wages and working conditions. Reports indicate that Walmart have don not advanced adequate wages to its esteemed employees who have led to constant strikes such as the latest protest in October 16, 2014. The workers and other public members argued that Walmart operations have robbed American economy by paying menial wages to its burdened employees. The workers protested Outside Alice Walton’s home in demand of better benefits and wages that led to the arrest of 26 Protestants. Arrest of demonstrating employees and members of the public raised public concerns over the central role of Walmart to the State and its contribution to the economy (Fishman 6). Project Requirements The project would entail gathering information from Walton family; Walmart stores employees, and members of the public around Arkansas State. The project would require drafted questionnaire that is both quantitative and qualitative. The questionnaire would be imperative in collecting relevant information form the aforementioned sources. The questionnaires would have to be in large numbers to support a large population around Arkansas and Walmart employees. The project also requires finances to assist in funding relevant materials such as questionnaires. Funding would also be essential in ensuring the success of activities such as transport logistics and personal effects during the study. Questionnaires used in the study would be designed to answer Walmart employees concerns, impact of the company on the economy of United States, and environmental effects of Walmart activities. The study also requires acceptance by Walmart management to interrogate its employees and conduct research related to their contribution to the American economy. In addition, the employees and members of the public would have to consent to the study requirements. Moreover, the project needs to observe research rules by adhering to State council ethics of the study. On completion of data collection, the project would require analytical tools such to code information and make it presentable. Analysis and interpretation would require ample time to establish aims of the project. The project also requires adequate personnel who would assist in accomplishing the project objectives. The final activity would involve recruiting the personnel with relevant qualifications on project research and analysis data. Moreover, the personnel must be residing from Arkansas. Project Activities The project would entail several activities from sourcing funding to conducting data collection and analysis of the final report. Initial project activity would involve finding right government agencies that would fund the project. Sourcing of financing would entail forwarding project proposals to companies and individuals. It would be imperative to explain the details of the project to the identified agencies and to convince them of economic importance of the research. During sourcing of funding, it would be vital to write requisition research letters to the identified government agencies directly involved in the research activities. It would also be significant to request Walmart to allow its employees to contribute to the research freely without legal engagements. Walmart management involvement and compliance with the project would be imperious for success of the project. There would also need to conduct reconnaissance studies before the actual project starts date. Reconnaissance would be vital in understanding the study region and individuals around Walmart. Reconnaissance would also be imperative in establishing a research relationship with potential interested Arkansas and Walmart individuals. It would also assist in estimating transport logistics and other expenditures. Reconnaissance would also help in identifying various social and government activities that might interfere with the project and compromise the time allocated. Such intensive reconnaissance studies would be indispensable in establishing risks plans for the project. The next activity would involve preparation project materials after ascertaining funding. The materials would need to be ready before commencement of the project. Designing of good questionnaires would be imperative for success of the project. The questionnaire would then be printed and made ready for distribution. The last activity would involve recruiting personnel who would assist in the study. The workers would help in distributing questionnaires and guiding individuals in answering questions as outlined. In addition, the personnel would be imperative in analysis and interpretation of the final report. Furthermore, support staff would be significant in ensuring all the outlined objectives of the project are accomplished within the stipulated duration. Budget Plan Proposed Project Activities Estimated Cost Project materials e.g. Printing of questionnaires $ 1000 Allowances $ 4000 Workers’ wages $ 10,000 Transport and Logistics $ 7,000 Miscellaneous $ 5,000 Total $ 27,000 Project Funding Sources Project funding sources Estimated Cost Johnson and Wales University Contribution $ 10,000 Government Agencies $ 10,000 Fundraising Component $ 4500 Personal contribution $ 5,000 Total $ 29,500 Risk Assessment Plan It would be important to carry out a risk assessment plan for the project to help design strategies for mitigating problems that may arise during the study. Risk assessment plan would help in ensuring continuity of the project by providing adequate funding and accomplishing of research objectives within the time schedule. Moreover, risk plans would ensure there are no overruns, potential cash flow shortages, management considerations, and possible delays. Risk assessment of the project would involve designing precise roles and responsibilities of the personnel involved in the study. Designing roles and responsibilities would help in mitigating problems that may occur during research involving employees’ disagreements over tasks or activities. It would also assist in ensuring all activities of the project are completed within the stipulated time interval (Uppal 9). It would also be vital to establish a risk assessment plan for resources committed to the project. Such assessments would be indispensable in ensuring that there is no lack of resources allocated to certain sections of the project. For instance, risk assessment plan on the estimated population of research would help in designing adequate questionnaires for individuals to be involved in the research. It would also be significant to assess the estimated cost and time allocated for the project. Such assessment would ensure that the projects’ costs and time are not too optimistic. In addition, time and cost risk assessment would be indispensable in mitigating unnecessary spending on activities not outlined in the projects’ objectives. Consequently, risks assessment plan of time would ensure that time allocated for the project is adequate. It would ensure that there are no unexpected budget cuts emanating from unplanned activities that result from poor timing. Project Schedule Activity Estimated Days Planned Start Date Planned End Date Resource Recruitment of support staff 2 From start date After 2 days Project manager and Recruits Printing and preparation of questionnaires 2 After completion of recruitment After two days Support staff, printing materials, printers. Distributing questionnaires and gathering information 14 After completion of staffing 14 days after start date Project manager Support staff Interviewees Analysis of collected data 10 From start date Project manager, Support Staff Preparation of final report and presentation 2 After completion of analysis and interpretation of collected data Project manager Estimated Duration 30 Works Cited Fishman, Charles. "The Wal-Mart Effect And A Decent Society: Who Knew Shopping Was So Important?." Academy Of Management Perspectives 20.3 (2006): 6-25 Matusitz, Jonathan, and Laura Lord. "Glocalization Or Grobalization of Wal-Mart In The US? A Qualitative Analysis." Journal of Organizational Transformation & Social Change 10.1 (2013): 81-100. Antzen, Robert, Donn Pescatrice, and Andrew Braunstein. "Wal-Mart And The US Economy." Eastern Economic Journal 35.3 (2009): 297-308 Arden, Art, Charles Courtemanche, and Jeremy Meiners. "Does Wal-Mart Reduce Social Capital?." Public Choice 138.1/2 (2009): 109-136. Uppal, Kul B. "Project Management, Cost Engineering, Project Definition, Action Plans Or What?." AACE International Transactions (2008): 1-11. Read More