January 2018 (Revised October 2020)
Case
HBS Case Collection

The Rise and Rise (?) of Walmart (A): Battling Kmart

By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell, Eric Van den Steen and Karen Elterman

Format:Print
| Language:English
| Pages:23

Abstract

This case, set in 1990, describes the history of Walmart and asks what competitive strategies Kmart might adopt in response to Walmart's success. It discusses the strategy and organization of both companies in terms of HR practices, store location, distribution, information technology, procurement, pricing, and company culture. This (A) case is the first in a multi-part series that goes on to describe the results of Kmart's competition with Walmart, as well as Walmart's later grappling with ecommerce and Amazon.

Keywords

Walmart; Kmart; Organization; Company Culture; Pricing; Procurement; Supercenter; Strategy; Competition; Organizational Culture; Competitive Strategy; Retail Industry; United States; Bentonville; Arkansas

Citation

Casadesus-Masanell, Ramon, Eric Van den Steen, and Karen Elterman. "The Rise and Rise (?) of Walmart (A): Battling Kmart." Harvard Business School Case 718-431, January 2018. (Revised October 2020.)