1. Which stakeholders does Wal-Mart seem to be serving better now than in the past? Why does this shift make a difference to Wal-Mart?
2. Are the ongoing criticisms about Wal-Mart justified? Is it possible to satisfy stakeholders more fully than Wal-Mart is currently attempting to do?

After years of criticism from various groups, Wal-Mart is paying more attention to its stakeholders. “We’ve talked to environmentalists; we’ve talked to NGOs; we’ve talked to people in neighborhoods. We’ve really reached out to say: What should we be doing differently?” says Mona Williams, Wal-Mart’s VP of corporate communications. In Aurora, Colorado, the world’s largest retailer has introduced numerous environmental initiatives, including solar and wind energy and recycled tires. Wal-Mart also claims that it has removed managers who acted unethically due to pressures to reduce costs. “We are light-years ahead of where we were even two or three years ago,” says Williams. This PBS program details some of the initiatives Wal-Mart has developed to change its relationship with stakeholders. We also hear from critics who explain why Wal-Mart’s recent public image campaign doesn’t correct the company’s underlying problems.