Wal-Mart China: Tian Tian Pingjia

Abstract

Having taken stock of where the division was, Scott Price, Wal-Mart China's interim CEO, wanted to lay the groundwork to be able to hand over the reins to the new CEO with an idea of where it was headed. At the end of his assignment, Price would like to leave a report with recommendations that would help position the next leader to be even more successful. What did day-to-day operations look like in 2012? Was there urgency anywhere along the line? Where was Wal-Mart China positioned and where was the market heading? Excerpt UVA-OM-1472 Rev. Apr. 19, 2018 Wal-Mart China: Tian Tian Pingjia From “It's the real thing,” to “We move the world,” to “Low prices. Every day. On everything.” Scott Price had years of experience in Asia—first at Coca-Cola, then DHL, and now as EVP, president, and CEO of Wal-Mart Asia. In October 2011, when the former China Wal-Mart CEO decided to leave, Price stepped up to serve as interim CEO. Fully understanding transition management, Price wanted to get the China operations ready for a new leader. Holding the fort meant more than coasting along. Price had several issues to keep tabs on: the Trust-Mart conversions to Wal-Mart systems and merchandise, the logistics of opening more stores in Tier II and III cities, and the fallout from the pork product mislabeling that shut down some stores for 15 days in Chongqing. Having taken stock of where the division was, Price wanted to lay the groundwork to be able to hand over the reins to the new CEO with an idea of where it was headed. At the end of his assignment, Price would like to leave a report with recommendations that would help position the next leader to be even more successful. What did day-to-day operations look like in 2012? Was there urgency anywhere along the line? Where was Wal-Mart China positioned and where was the market heading? . . .