Read the case study "Walmart, Inc. in 2018: The World's Biggest Retailer Faces New Challenges"

1. How successful is Walmart? How much of its success can be attributed to industry allure and how much to competitive advantage?
2. Which of Walmart's primary roles and responsibilitiesnamely, purchasing, supply chain management, in-store operations, marketing, information technology, human resources management, and organizational and management methodsholds the company's key competitive advantages? Determine the unique resources and abilities that are used in each of these roles and activities.
3. How long-lasting is Walmart's competitive advantage? Why have other retailers struggled to replicate Walmart's business model and competitive advantage?
4. What difficulties is Walmart currently dealing with? What steps does it need to take to maintain its current performance and protect against threats posed by competitors (and other factors)?