This report discusses the evaluation of Wal-Mart's strategic planning process. The purpose of this evaluation is to compare and analyze performance to help us better measure our operating and financial condition, as well as enable us to achieve our future goals and continue to grow. Key Concepts: Defining the Strategic Plan: A company's strategic plan outlines its future business direction and purpose, performance, objectives and strategy. Definition of strategic management: consists of the analysis, decisions and actions that an organization takes to create and sustain competitive advantages. This definition captures two main elements that go to the heart of the strategic management field. Mission Statement: Wal-Mart's mission statement is simple and to the point "We save people money so they can live better" Environmental Scanning: Definition - Closely monitoring an organization's internal and external environments to detect early signals of opportunities and threats that could influence its current and future plans. In comparison, surveillance is limited to a specific target or a narrow sector. Strengths Wal-Mart has a competitive advantage that helps distinguish it from others. They operate according to economies of scale. Competitors have difficulty matching superstore prices because they typically lack the volume to negotiate better deals. As Wal-Mart develops its distribution center and scales its operations, it is able to order larger quantities at lower prices and pass the savings on to its customers. This generates traffic to stores and supports a unique shopping experience. Wal-Mart's partnership with Cisco Systems allows suppliers to access Wal-Mart's database for real-time information... half the paper... bama. “Outstanding article on the WalMartization of America by Harold Meyerson in The American Prospect.” Daily Kos. Np, December 3, 2013. Web. July 1, 2014. Duryee, Tricia . “Walmart's shopping spree continues as its online sales grow faster than Amazon's.” Geek thread. Np, May 6, 2014. Web. July 1, 2014. Hiltzik, Michael. "Wal-Mart's Reliance on Food Stamps Revealed." Los Angeles Times. Np, March 24, 2014. Web. July 1, 2014. Grant, Robert M. . “Wal-Mart Store Operations and Business.” Contemporary Strategy - Inkling. Wiley. Network. July 1, 2014.Samakow, GrantPaul. “Suing Wal-Mart: Bad Business Practices Lead to Litigation.” Washington Times. Wiley, June 2, 2013. Web. July 1, 2014. Olssen, Karen. "Against Wal-Mart." Mother Jones. Np, nd Web. July 1, 2014.Bose, Nandita. “The China Wal-Mart Syndrome is a symptom of international ills.” Reuters. Np, 21 February 2014. Web. 1 July 2014.