The Strategic Design Lens

An organizational analysis is guided by an idea of how organizations work. There are three classic perspectives or “lenses” and each lens offers a different perspective through social and analytical science disciplines (Ancona et al., 2004). The strategic design perspective emphasizes the efficiency and effectiveness of an organization to accomplish goals set according to the organizational standard. For over 45 years, Wal-Mart has been able to prove time and time again that they have set the bar for accomplishing goals according to their standards with the least possible expenditure of their resources. This has been accomplished through a commitment to a continuously improving supply chain loop by delivering every-day low prices to their customers at a low cost to the organization. While their low prices strategy, continuing expansion, and growth throughout the US and other developing continents worked in their earlier years, Wal-Mart is struggling today to relate to their customers within their local markets forcing the corporate giant to reinvent their strategic plan. Success of Wal-Mart’s strategic plan will depend on senior leadership’s ability to effectively group, link and align all of their initiatives relative to the organizational goals for the future.
Under the leadership of Eduardo Castro-Wright, president and chief executive officer for Wal-Mart Stores U.S., a three-year strategic plan is being implemented that will change practically everything the company does: the way it builds and operates it stores and the way it buys and stocks merchandise, the way it hires, trains and compensates employees (Saporito, 2007). The ultimate goal of this strategic plan is to drive returns and sales through a strategic approach to improve customer relevancy in operations and merchandise, improve employee compensation packages while maintaining growth and expansion relevant to the changing competitive atmosphere.
Since Sam Walton began the Wal-Mart