Question - Context

Walmart China opened its first store in Shenzhen in 1996. Today it operates over 400 retail units nationwide. You are now applying for a summer internship position at Walmart China Home Office based in Shenzhen. Your prospective manager asks the following questions on global information management.

Question - (a)

a) Walmart has already built and now maintains mature information systems in the USA. To avoid reinventing the wheel, Walmart China has been referring to the IS design and implementation from its USA counterpart. Based on the five-component framework of information systems, please explain what you need to do regarding each component, except for the people component (2 marks for each component).

Question - (b)

b) Walmart China plans to build a payment solution into their mobile application to improve checkout experience for consumers. The management team is considering an IT outsourcing approach for this plan. Please identify TWO advantages and TWO risks associated with IT outsourcing that Walmart China may experience (1.5 marks for each advantage and each risk).

Question - (c)

c) While Walmart was one of the first big international brands entering the Chinese market, it has had challenges and difficulties in the goal of dominating the grocery business given the very different market environment from the US. Indeed, global project management is very difficult. Considering the case for Walmart (US and China), please describe TWO challenges of managing such global projects (2 marks for each challenge with reasons). Which organizational information systems would you recommend to help managing global projects? Name TWO and explain with valid reasons (1 mark for each proposed IS).