Wal-Mart

This week the Wall Street Journal has been running a column of readers' comments on Wal-Mart. Even in the WSJ, most readers have been questioning Wal-Mart's motives, and others have doubted that Wal-mart can be both socially responsible and highly profitable based on their low cost model. When a generally pro-business, conservative group such as this have started questioning Wal-Mart, it is clear that Wal-Mart has some growing challenges on its hands. The skills which made it successful are being challenged as socially undesirable. Its focus on "backroom" efficiency is seen as contrary to the new need for consumer facing skills. In order to continue to prosper, Wal-Mart will have to make some substantial changes.