For the final group project we chose to complete a management analysis on Wal-Mart. This document covers the topics of productivity, hiring practices, social responsibility and corporate culture, diversity and affirmative action, the use of information technology, leadership, teamwork and management of ethics. Productivity is very important for any successful business. Wal-Mart has increased its productivity through many different advancements. Business analysts have long admired Wal-Mart's logistics management, even as the public recognizes them for their low, discounted prices. Wal-Mart has always been resourceful in moving and storing goods, building its stores like branches around distribution centers. But instead of simply maximizing warehouse efficiency, for example, Wal-Mart has begun analyzing costs throughout the entire shipping process, including how quickly goods can be moved onto shelves once they arrive at the store . Just one example of these analyzes found that not completely filling a pallet with merchandise can save so much store storage time that what seems "inefficient" in the warehouse is more productive overall. Through the analyses, they implemented RFID, a new goods traceability system. RFID starts at the checkout, as customers walk through the checkout queues, the RFID immediately takes point of sale data on their purchases combined with the data generated by the RFID to create a list of what is available to produce a list of withdrawal. The use of this technology allowed employees to change the inventory tracking process. Scanners automatically send incoming and outgoing data directly to suppliers, vendors and distribution warehouses. This system allows you to consume less half... half of paper... millions of stores," (Business Week, November 2005). Leadership in an organization is critical to its effective functioning. Some of the fastest systems Businesses growing today are based on leadership innovation. Wal-Mart uses the visionary leadership approach. This form of leadership increases efficiency by moving the responsibility of decision making to the front. Efficiency is then achieved with limited supervision In turn, it gives workers the opportunity to develop quality decision-making skills, which benefits the company. On the other hand, this lack of supervision and guidance could lead workers to make poor decisions that could ultimately cost the company.