An organizational chart is one that shows the organizational structure and the relationship hierarchy. It also shows the structure of the business or any other organization. Organizational charts can be used in many different ways with some organizations using it as a management tool or for planning their resources. The main objective of an organizational chart, it shows the work responsibilities and reporting relationships among the staff of the organization. It is also effective since it allows staff members to comprehend how their duties and work fit into the organization’s scheme. An organizational chart is also a tool used to improve the lines of communication among employees. A chart is a tool that manager’s use more frequents than other staff since it can help them in scaling the company and the growth of the company. The relationships within departments can also be identified using an organizational chart this then helps in not overlapping of duties by departments. (Ciborra, 2006)
There are four types of organizational charts including a functional top down, a divisional structure, a matrix organizational chart, and the flat organizational chart. A functional top-down hierarchy shows the executive staff members at the top like the president or the chief executive officer followed by other staff members who have senior roles in the company. Based on every member's role in the company, the chart is divided into departments. The divisional organizational chart shows the top leadership at the top followed by leaders of certain product lines. The matrix organizational chart divides employees according to projects or product lead by a manager. The flat organizational chart no levels of the management between the executive positions and other employees. In this assignment, the organization identified uses the functional top-down chart in listing all the key leaders in the organization. (Ciborra, 2006)
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Walmart is an American retail corporation that operates hypermarkets and discount stores across America. The organizational chart in Walmart determines its business activities. The organizational chart in Walmart is also used to address the problems that the business might be facing. An organizational chart is an important tool for Walmart since it establishes ways on how employees respond to challenges in the workplace. The company’s growing success over the years is a clear indication of the company’s strong organizational structures and organizational culture. The human resource department has shown clearly the importance of having a good and followed organizational chart.
In Walmart, the human resources opt for a functional top-down organizational chart. They have opted for the traditional way of organizing their company. The functional organizational structure that Walmart uses has two key features including the hierarchy and function based definition. The feature that has the hierarchy includes the vertical lines of authority throughout the company’s structure. The chart has the CEO at the top followed by other employees and every one of them has superiors. Middle managers play a crucial role in the company’s structure since they implement mandates from the top levels of the company. The function-based structure, on the other hand, includes employees of Walmart doing their duties and functions (Dudovskiy, 2016). The departments under the function-based structure in Walmart have employees doing similar roles and functions. For instance the Department of Information technology, they can also have a department of human resource management. These two features of Walmart’s functional organizational structure enable managers to corporate easily and communicate efficiently between them and other employees. Policies and strategies used are passed down to regional and marketing managers who ensure they are implemented. The organization chart of Walmart has provided consistent success in Walmart and has enabled high retention rates in Walmart.
At the top of Walmart’s organizational chart, is the top executive including the President of Walmart stores and the Chief Executive Officer? He is at the top leadership of the all the stores worldwide. There is also the president and the Chief Executive officer of Walmart in the United States. Then there is the president of Walmart Sam’s club and the president of global e-commerce and technology. The functions of the top executive members in achieving Walmart’s vision and mission are to advise the board. They are the leaders of the corporation and are involved in advising the board in Walmart in making sound and correct decisions. The presidents and the chief executive officers also advocate the organization changes that are related to the organization’s mission and vision. They can also be involved in motivating the employees through seminars and talks to achieve Walmart’s vision and mission. (Dudovskiy, 2016)
The top executive also is visionary and is information bearers. They are information bearers since they ensure staff and board members that they are updated on what the organization should be doing by providing up to date information. The top executives also ensure interface between the organization, community and the board and its employees. Among their roles, the most important roles they have is to formulate policies and laws that will help in achieving the mission of Walmart. They also decide on the right course of action in operations by employees. They are the final decision makers and they ensure the decisions made are sound and safe and can be of help in achieving the vision, target, and goals of Walmart. They also ensure the products are of the highest quality and are presented in a good and strong way to relevant stakeholders, to the general population, and to their customers. (Dudovskiy, 2016)
Down the chart are 29 senior executives who are the executive vice presidents of different departments. Among the Vice Presidents, there is the executive vice president of the treasurer; there is the executive vice president of corporate affairs, executive vice president of global e-commerce and technology and many others. In total, there are 29 in number and each of them serves different roles and responsibilities in ensuring that Walmart’s vision mission, goals, and objectives are achieved. The executive vice presidents have a purpose of achieving the financial goals of Walmart. The other purpose that executive vice president perform is to liaise with the board of directors in formulating policies that aimed at increasing efficiency in the company. They all report to the company’s president and their superiors. The executive vice presidents of Walmart have the responsibility of managing finances in the company and ensuring that resources all used in accordance with the budget and the plan laid down by the top leadership of the company. The vice presidents also ensure that there is a healthy relationship between the executives and managers in Walmart (Fergusson, 2018). They ensure that a healthy work environment is maintained and that employees are working towards achieving the goals of Walmart.
Vice presidents in Walmart have decision-making powers and they have a say in the board of directors in what decisions to be implemented. They are second in command and typically, they act as the company’s leaders in any case the top leadership is not around. Their main mandate is ensuring that the company has fulfilled its goals and objectives and that the vision and mission of Walmart are achieved. Executive vice presidents are crucial in the company since they act as a link between employees and the top leadership of the company. Departmental managers who are the next down the hierarchy chart of Walmart assist the vice presidents. (Fergusson, 2018)
Market managers and departmental managers answer to the executive vice president and their role is to corporate different departments in ensuring that Walmart’s products are on sale. The marketing manager employs strategies to analyze the industry in which Walmart operates. Departmental managers aid the company in supervising activities of employees of Walmart. They evaluate and assess employee performance and ensure that they in line in achieving the company’s goals and mission. They also recommend in hiring, promotion, and retention of employees. Managers play a crucial role in implementing the policies formulated by top leadership. Down the chart are the assistant managers. Assist managers to assist the managers in duties pertaining to employee data, salaries and pay slips. Assistant managers are integral players at Walmart since they connect on a personal level with employees of Walmart. They also help the organization in achieving their goals by ensuring Walmart maintains the excellent record it has when it comes to customer relation. Down the hierarchy chart is the management trainee. Walmart prepares employees to be managers to help in their vision and mission. Management trainees are crucial in Walmart since they learn the organizational culture before they are promoted to being managers. Down the chart are the support managers, then the customer service supervisors and last on Walmart’s organizational chart are the cashiers, stockers and sales associates who interact with customers on a personal level. (Fergusson, 2018)
In conclusion, all the players in Walmart’s organizational chart are crucial and help in maintaining the organizational culture and in achieving Walmart’s vision, mission, and goals. The leaders in different departments answer to someone above them. Walmart has experienced massive success due to its organizational culture that has been maintained by the key leaders in Walmart.
References
Ciborra, C. U. (2006). The Platform Organization: Recombining Strategies, Structures, and Surprises. Organization Science , 7 (2), 103-118. doi:10.1287/orsc.7.2.103
Dudovskiy, J. (2016, March 29). Walmart Leadership and Walmart Organizational Structure - Research-Methodology. Retrieved from https://research-methodology.net/walmart-leadership-and-walmart-organizational-structure/
Fergusson, E. (2018, August 22). Walmart's Mission Statement & Vision Statement, Generic & Intensive Strategies - Panmore Institute. Retrieved from http://panmore.com/walmart-vision-mission-statement-intensive-generic-strategies
