Wal-Mart: An IT Powerhouse

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the organizational structure of Wal-Mart and reveals that it is a recognized leader in information technology (IT). The paper focuses on Wal-Mart's IT department and discusses the inputs and outputs of Wal-Mart's information systems (IS) and the hardware platform used. The paper suggests that Wal-Mart is a great example of the difference a talented and dedicated IT department can make to a company. However, the paper also notes that the company must change some of their IS philosophy or risk losing market share.

Outline:
Executive Summary
Organizational Structure
Inputs and Outputs
Organizational Usage and Impact
Hardware and Software
Recommendations

From the Paper:

"With over $370 billion in 2007 sales, 180 million customers each week, 1.9 million employees, 6,800 facilities worldwide and 61,000 U.S. suppliers Wal-Mart uses a complex information system that does everything from supply chain management to point-of-sale transaction processing.
"Wal-Mart uses an in-sourced information system that was developed so the company can run a unified system worldwide. The unified system allows employees around the world to operate on the same system saving the company millions a year in costs from not using a multiple systems solution."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Accounting Software Advisor. (2007). Supply Chain. Retrieved May, 2008 from http://www.asaresearch.com/ecommerce/supplychain.htm
• Babcock, Charles. (2006). Data, Data, Everywhere. Retrieved May, 2008 from http://www.informationweek.com/news/management/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=175801775
• Lundberg, Abbie. (2002). Wal-Mart: IT Inside the World's Biggest Company. Retrieved May, 2008 from http://www.cio.com/article/31174/Wal_Mart_IT_Inside_the_World_s_Biggest_Company
• Sullivan, Laurie. (2004). Wal-Mart's Way. Retrieved May, 2008 from http://www.informationweek.com/news/mobility/RFID/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=47902662
• Teradata. (2008). Teradata 5550 Platform. Retrieved May, 2008 from http://www.teradata.com/t/pdf.aspx?a=83673&b=180748

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