Corporate Social Responsibilities of Wal-Mart

As corporations continue to evolve and compete in a global marketplace where consumers are afforded the opportunity to give and receive feedback from immediate social media avenues, the image of the corporation becomes an ever increasing concern for executives and shareholders. Because of this instantaneous feedback, the actions of a corporation are under constant scrutiny and evaluation. In an effort to capitalize on this opportunity, company executives have embraced the idea of Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR.

Corporate Social Responsibility is a self-imposed set of policies that a company commits to that involves the protection of the company, its internal and external shareholders and the community and environments. There are four main components to a CSR that most companies strive to uphold. These are listed as financial or economic, legal, and ethical responsibilities, and philanthropic. As a worldwide company of over 2 million employees, Wal-Mart continually strives to uphold the image and small town ideals that its founder Sam Walton instilled during its creation in 1962.

It is imperative that the first focus of any company both internally and externally needs to be that of an economic benefit for the individual stakeholders of that company. Wal-Mart is not different in that in order to offer any benefit to any person, it must make a profit. Therefore the first focus of Wal-Mart’s CSR is that of an economic benefit. With 2013 projected revenue of almost $470 Billion, Wal-Mart has the means to benefit shareholders in the form of dividends for stock, wages and benefits to its 2 million employees and an economic benefit for communities in the form of tax revenue and good will.

The second area of CSR is one o...

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...w Age of Walmart. Here we see how some employees are disgruntled about what are perceived as poor working conditions, poor work environment and poor community care. Time will tell if these accusations are the norm or the exception to the rule and rather or not Wal-Mart has a CSR that is only a shell of its intent. A solid vision of corporate social responsibility is a north start for employees and decision makers to keep them on target so that overall, Wal-Mart becomes a leader for other companies to follow.

Works Cited

Maxwell, John C. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2007. Print.

"New Age of Walmart." Watch The NEW Age of Walmart. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2013.

Sinek, Simon. Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action. New York: Portfolio / Penguin, 2011. Print.