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PR CASE STUDY: Walmart’s Corporate Social Responsibility efforts… or Lack thereof.
Introduction & Background of Walmart Corporate
With recent evidence pointing towards the need for corporations to become socially responsible entities of society (Elving, 2012), corporate social responsibility has picked up pace among these organizations as they now see its benefits in accomplishing business objectives. Kotler & Lee (2005) define Corporate Social Responsibility as “a commitment to improve community well-being through discretionary business practices and contributions of corporate resources” (p. 3). The notable feature of CSR is that it should be discretionary, in other words, socially responsible actions should be of the company’s volition. Among the many corporate entities that have taken significant steps is Walmart Inc.
Walmart is a renowned multinational retail corporation founded in 1962 by Sam Walton in Rogers, Arkansas. Walmart operates a vast number of hypermarkets and discounted grocery stores. Walmart runs nearly “11,500 stores under 56 banners in 27 countries and eCommerce websites in 10 countries… employing more than 2.2 million associates around the world — nearly 1.5 million in the U.S. alone. This makes it the biggest employer in the United States (Walmart, n.d).
Company’s Purpose
According to the company’s 2020 Environmental, Social, and Governance report, the company’s purpose is “ to save people money and help [stakeholders] live better… providing convenient access to high-quality, affordable food and other essential products and services to millions of people each week” (p.7). This purpose is reflected in its business strategy which revolves around Every-Day-Low-Price and convenience shopping for its customers around the world. The corporate body also espouses values such as “respect for the individuals, service to the customer, and [acting] with integrity” (Walmart, 2020a)
Some of its objectives include “making every day easier for busy families’’ which entails providing customers with variegated products and services at the best prices in the shortest time. It also aims to drive development among its staff by providing inclusive opportunities and goal-oriented training to enhance innovation. Another…
