While I was somewhat disappointed with the last Wal-Mart film I viewed, the greatest criticism I have about Frontline’s segment, Is Wal-Mart Good For America?, is that it was too short. …and I don’t mean to imply that it lacked sufficient content, just that it was so well done that I wanted it to continue beyond 1 hour.

Though the segment aired in 2004, the content is still quite relevant, in regards to Wal-Mart as well as the current state of China-US business relations. In addition to presenting a lot of data, both for and against the company, the segment includes quite a few interviews with Wal-Mart executives. The interviews undoubtedly add more validity than if they were absent, but for me personally, helped also to put a more human face on the corporation. That said, each of the Wal-Mart executives interviewed seemed distant, rehearsed, and well prepped to maintain the corporation’s image. It was kind of like watching an a set of interviews with seasoned politicians…

Here’s a fairly succinct clip from the introduction to the segment:

“FRONTLINE explores the relationship between U.S. job losses and the American consumer’s insatiable desire for bargains in “Is Wal-Mart Good for America?” Through interviews with retail executives, product manufacturers, economists, and trade experts, correspondent Hedrick Smith examines the growing controversy over the Wal-Mart way of doing business and asks whether a single retail giant has changed the American economy.”

Following are the major sections of the program:

• Wal-Mart’s Revoltionary Power: “How Wal-Mart and other giant chains have reversed 100 years of history and made mass global retailers more powerful than manufacturers.”
• Muscling Manufacturers: “Rubbermaid boosted profits with a Wal-Mart account. But when it had to hike prices, Wal-Mart balked and dropped Rubbermaid products.”
• The Strategy: Low Costs and Go Global: “By the late 90’s Wal-Mart was dependent on low-cost Asian imports and begins pushing U.S. suppliers to follow Wal-mart to Asia.”
• China’s View of Wal-Mart — Big Partner: “Wal-Mart’s huge buying operation taps directly into China, the world’s new workshop, fueling its export pipeline and America’s growing trade deficit.”
• Taking the Hits: “The story of TV manufacturers in Ohio and Tennessee faced with low-cost foreign imports and Wal-Mart’s price pressures. Is their story the new model of world capitalism?”

My views about Wal-Mart and its impact on both the US and global economy have not changed since viewing the Frontline segment. If anything, they have grown stronger and more substantiated.

During a particularly interesting portion of the segment, images of Sam Walton were shown, tying together a description of the principles and business strategies upon which the company was founded. I can’t help but wonder if Sam would be proud or ashamed at what has become of his company. While I don’t think it is fair to make assumptions one way or another, I think the the question raises and interesting point about the dynamic nature of a corporation. Whether Sam Walton wanted his five and dime store to turn into one of the most controversial and powerful corporations in recent time or not, that is the progression the business made.

Whether we like to think we are in control or not, the businesses we create and are a part of may very well outlive us, and perhaps not according to the principals and standards with which we established them. What would Sam Walton say? What about Bill Hewlett or David Packard? What about the scores of other business leaders that have passed away, leaving the companies they founded to live on, growing and feeding according to an ever-evolving Capitalistic model?

I would highly recommend this program to anyone interested in business, the US or global economy, China, Wal-Mart, or any other giant corporation.

TAGS: Wal-Mart | PBS | Frontline | China

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 7th, 2006 at 11:01 am and is filed under Books and Films, Business Ethics, Business Strategy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.