Alex's Leading Elevation Blog: Organization Values

When I think of an organization that I know portrays their values very well it's hard for me to narrow it down to just one because I feel so many organizations make their values known. As part of most of their business structures, it's important for companies to have their consumers or people within that organization to have their values known so that people will naturally gravitate towards a company they feel aligns with their values. When we think of a company that displays their values you think of churches, fraternities, many businesses, forms of media, etc...It's hard for me to pick just one. One I feel does an extremely good job is Wal Mart.

Now I know what you're thinking. WALMART?! WHAT?! THEY'RE A TERRIBLY EVIL CORPORATION. But let's think about this. How often do we hear in the media about people complaining about working for walmart, and their lack of overtime pay, bad wages, killing small business, the works. Now it may seem bad, but for better or for worse its an explanation of their values as a company whether you agree with it or not. On the flip side, they also display how they work for the middle-class by having such low prices on everything, and providing jobs to thousands of Americans. These, most would agree, are considered "good" values. Like I said earlier, Walmart displays their values good or bad in almost every public fashion.

If you'll notice, walmart hasn't changed very much when it comes to their values and it's simply because it's a great business model. You can complain about the wages, killing small business and everything like that but whatever their doing it's working for them extremely well. People still go to their stores in droves to get the lowest prices on everything, and help save them some money.

I chose this company because of their "flip-flop" of values and ideals. Many would argue that a company is not moral or does not possess values because of the negativity associated with this company but who could argue that a company who is extremely successful providing a need to millions of Americans has low values. Brass tacks, this company may be an "evil" corporation or however you look at it, but there is still something redeeming about them that Americans and people all over the globe appreciate because there business is thriving. Yes, small business is struggling, and people may not have the most ideal jobs, but for some reason this does not seem to phase most people who shop there. It seems to me that Walmart is somehow portraying their positive values a lot more than their negative ones because while many Americans are upset with them, people still shop there. essentially it all comes down to good marketing in order to persuade people to continue to shop there.

Truthfully, I am having trouble writing this post because it's hard for me to judge the values of a company such as walmart because in theory, their business model is perfectly fine and they shouldn't be criticized for succeeding in an open market. Not to say I don't care about people or their means of living on all aspects whether they're the farmers, workers, shoppers, etc.. This company just doesn't seem to bother me all that much because in the end...they're a business. There's a reason Walmart succeeded and it's because they were able to offer products at much lower prices than their competitors which is the formula for any good business. In my mind people cannot expect for them to offer lavish wages or things like that simply because people want more money or benefits. In the end, although it may seem that Walmart is a company working for the common man and saving them money, it's still a business and the only reason people get into business is a make a profit. Often times emotions do not play a part in the dealings and we hear the phrase all the time, "it's nothing personal, it's just business."

This is an example of the negative media Walmart receives, and without knowing the backstory seems rightfully so. But notice the eerie background music and the rhetoric used by the host. (also keep in mind this mans first job was broadcasting on ESPN. Why his political opinions matter to anyone is beyond me)

A positive commercial put out by Walmart showing what good their doing for the environment, and the people. Positive values?

This video, obviously made by a third party explaining all the evil aspects of Walmart and how people can avoid them. But the reason this video doesn't matter is because people go to Walmart for the convenience of their shopping experience. Again, as part of their business model, with everyone being so busy who has time to go to all these different stores to purchase everything they need. Not that people buying locally, used clothes, and and swapping is bad, it's just not something most Americans value. Sadly, people value their time and personal well-being over the well-being of everyone else. So whether or not you agree, I dont think it's something you can deny for the population as a whole.

So for me with Walmart this company works great of showing they value the American worker, family man, and middle class through their ADs, product prices and numerous locations. They still demonstrate their "lesser" values by publicly stating their lack of wanting workers' unions, low wages without benefits, and everything else people find wrong with them. It's not a secret, but yet their extremely successful and are not going anywhere anytime soon.

1 comment:

BTBlair270October 19, 2010 at 6:20 AM
I really appreciate you using Wal-Mart as an example here. Just taking things a step further... I would argue that the reason Wal-Mart does so well, is not only because they appeal to so many people because of their low costs, but also because you know what to expect from Wal-Mart. They say they are cheap, and thats what you get in return. If they said they were cheap, but were really expensive, that wouldn't be good. Or if they said they were expensive and high quality, but ended up being cheap, that wouldn't be good either. So I think its their "congruence" (topic we're going to talk a LOT about in class) that makes them so successful.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Organization Values

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