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| "Botton Line:What are the True Costs of Wal-Mart's Low Prices?" Wal-Mart Watch. Location: 1) The following URL will take you to the Wal-Mart Watch annual report page where you can download the document. http://walmartwatch.com/pages/annual_report_2005 2) This link will automatically start the PDF download of the report: http://walmartwatch.com/pdf/2005-annual-report.pdf "Facts and News." Wal-Mart Website. http://walmartstores.com/FactsNews/FactSheets/ Pre-reading Question 1) What do you know about the controversies surrounding Wal-Mart? How do you feel about these controversies? How do you feel about frequenting a store that uses business practices that you may not like? Are monetary savings worth more than the negative effects of unsavory business policies? Journal Topic 1) "Big-box stores" such as Wal-Mart and Home Depot have completely redefined how America shops and spends. What is the appeal of these massive stores to the average customer? What types of stores do you prefer to shop at? Big, "one-stop-shopping" stores, or smaller stores that may be locally owned and that may even have their own unique identity? What are your reasons for your choices? Is there anything you would like to see change at the bigger stores? 2) Many cities around the nation are boycotting Wal-Mart stores and not letting them open in their communities. These city leaders and activists claim that Wal-Mart can force small businesses to close and harm the local economy and that the placement of stores can lead to traffic congestion and even increased crime rates. Others assert that Wal-Mart has opened stores in small communities and kept them open only long enough to force smaller local businesses to close, at which point the corporation closes the giant store, throwing people out of work, but maximizing their own profits by forcing consumers to drive to nearby communities with open Wal-Marts in order to but the products they were once able to purchase in their own communities. Should people be able to stop Wal-Mart from building stores in their communities? Questions for Critical Thought 1) Wal-Mart Watch makes strong assertions against the Wal-Mart Corporation. Do you believe their claims or find them hard to believe? Does Wal-Mart Watch provide a convincing argument against the Wal-Mart Corporation? Do you think the information presented is factual and trustworthy? What elements of this report make you trust it or not trust it? Give a critical reaction to the claims made in this report and explore the points that you believe and don't believe the most. 2) On Wal-Mart's own site, the corporation states, "At Wal-Mart, we believe in a philosophy of operating globally and giving back locally. We are proud to be a 'store of the community' for all of the communities we serve by helping to provide financial and volunteer support to more than 100,000 charitable and community-focused organizations, and by utilizing our locations to provide opportunities for our customers and associates to give back." Do you think this and other information presented at the corporate site is factual and trustworthy? What elements of the web site make you trust it or not trust it? Give a critical reaction to the corporation's claims and explore the points that you believe and don't believe the most. 3) According to Wal-Mart Watch, Wal-Mart makes over $10 billion a year in profits, most of which goes to the upper echelon of the corporation. Meanwhile, the article asserts that they pay the regular employees comparatively poorly. This is quite typical in a corporate structure. Should this be the case in modern America? Should CEOs and owners become billionaires while blue collar workers barely make a living? Is that unfair and in need of change, or is that just the ultimate goal of capitalism? Suggestions for Personal Research 1) Much of the information in Wal-Mart Watch's article contradicts the assertions made by the Wal-Mart corporation. Do some further research. Research the "facts" presented by both sides. Which side seems the most convincing, logical, honest, and factual? What biases can you detect? Does either side try to manipulate the reader in any way? Which one do you trust the most? Find articles written on the subject by other parties not associated with either Wal-Mart Watch or the Wal-Mart Corporation. What do they say about the issues raised? What evidence do they present? How much do they rely on information, and how much do they rely on emotional manipulation? Are they pushing any agendas?Multicultural Issues 1) If you are from another country, did you have "big-box stores" like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, or Target there? If so, how different were they from what you see here? If not, why do you think they are so popular in America but not in your native country?Vocabulary Terms homogenization accelerate cornerstone meager erroneous |