Wal-Mart in 2004 - Managing Succession Planning

The Wal-Mart formula was to sell good quality, branded, yet modestly priced merchandise in a clean, no frills setting that offered one-stop family shopping. Wal-Mart believed in an 'every day low price' philosophy. This pricing stability cut advertising costs and contributed to low overheads. It also created an image of dependability and fair play in the minds of customers...

As Walton realised his days were coming to an end, he groomed a new leadership team comprising the next generation of Waltons and a group of professional managers that would ensure the survival of his original vision.

Glass and Walton were similar in some ways. Both loved the retail business. Both were superb operations men and knew how to get the most out of their employees. Both shared a definite distaste for the home office...

Succession planning under Glass gathered momentum in the mid-1990s. Lee Scott had worked in the company's logistics and transportation area for his first sixteen years with Wal-Mart...