Title of Paper
“We save people money so they can live better.” Walmart stands on a mission statement to provide their shareholders with a better way of living. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Operates retail stores in various formats across the world. Founder Sam Walton opened the first Wal-Mart in 1962 in Rogers, Arkansas with a vision to 'promote ownership of Wal-Mart’s ethical culture to all stakeholders globally.' Under the same strategic foundation, Sam Walton instilled the company business strategy 'Save money. Live better.' Wal-Mart has been the worlds number one retailer by providing customers with Everyday Low Price(EDLP), excellent customer service.
The development and training of all Wal-Mart associates are critical to Wal-Mart’s overall success in delivering on the EDLP mission, and its commitment to saving people money so they can live better. In order to guarantee the success, Walmart has introduced new training plans that are supported by a global learning management system(GLMS). These training plans are created with an integrate approach, in aid to improve functional skills, leadership, and compliance training with one tool. Walmart’s training plans for employees begin Day 1, including orientation and onboarding, allow new employees to gain accustom to Wal-Mart’s company culture. Training is centralized and available for employees’ aid for the global learning management system, enabling the employee to learn while they are on the job (Sung & Choi, 2014). Individualized training plans help employees succeed in their current role and guide them to the next step in their career.
As an external hire into Wal-Mart’s Assistant Management program, I understand how vital it is to improve Wal-Mart’s trainee program to a more hands on approach where trainees have an opportunity to learn solutions to work related situations that will better assist them into their new role. Wal-Mart Assistant Store Managers play a vital role in the overall success of the company's goal. Assistant Managers responsibilities includes; review and incorporate all correspondence and responsibilities into the daily action plan for their primary area of responsibility, delegate daily assignments to all associates, tours the daily assigned areas and constantly to cevaluate performance gaps, hold associates accountable to maintain store standards, and ensures the primary areas of responsibility is properly staff while meeting expectations. In order for assistant managers to directly connected to the competency in driving company success they must encourage associates to identify and communicate ideas that will improve the products and services provided to local consumers, and take action to implement these ideas. Anticipate external factors and use information about competitor prices, products, and displays, and improved knowledge related to area. Assistant managers also model and teach associates how to develop and implement innovative ways to provide convenient, safe, and pleasant shopping experience for customers. One of the most important roles of an assistant manager is to educate and trains associates on merchandising planning and improvement processes and monitors associate implementation of these practices in order to reach business goals and objectives.
According to founder Sam Walton, "Communicate everything you can to your associates. The more they know, the more they'll care. Once they care, there's no stopping them." Due to the vast amount of responsibility Assistant Manager is responsible for, the training and development of an ASM are imperative to the success one has in this role. Walmart trains thousands of additional assistant managers yearly, the success of this training directly impacts the business in the store (Liang, Kao, Tu, Chin & Chung, 2013). Assistant managers are a big part Wal-Mart leadership talent pool and are often stepping into their role without being equipped,
