Needs Assessment is an important part of Training and Development. Review the course readings for this week, and utilize the SWOT you created for the thread this week. Create a Needs Assessment for your company you have analyzed in the SWOT. To do this, create a 2-4 page paper, following APA 6th guidelines, with the following headings:

A.Company information:Brief introduction. Provide company information, background, and recent stock value trending in this section. (i.e. in the past year, has the stock gone up or down? Have there been recent significant changes in their industry? Basic orienting information goes here.) (5 points.)

B.SWOT: (you can use bullets and SWOT headings here.) (5 points, but required.)

C.Gap analysis:What possible gaps do you see in the company (think opportunities, weaknesses, threats) which haven’t already been addressed? Perhaps these have to do with new regulations forthcoming in the industry which may need addressing? Perhaps the company has just acquired a new company and is branching out into new territory? Discuss two or three of those gaps, with are employee related, and which could lend themselves to potential training needs. Explain why these gaps would be best filled with training, and not some other method. (25 points.)

**please see my SWOT i did for the company.. please add more or take some things out and add new information to it.... **  

Wal-Mart Inc

WMT Wal-Mart Inc.

Link:http://stock.walmart.com/investors/financial-information/sec-filings/

SWOT:

STRENGTH :  

Well recognized brand. Walmart is the world’s second largest company by revenue and the largest retailer in the world.  

Widest selection of products among retailers; a better chance of keeping customers because of the possibility of finding anything at Walmart.  

Prices are lower than competitors. They have a large volume which allows the company to receive huge discounts from suppliers.  

Walmart is now operating globally, they have a competitive advantage worldwide because Walmart has been able to embrace culture and diversity across the nations.

Walmart has come up with a new application called The Savings Catcher. The Saving Catcher compares the items the customer has purchased to other retailers prices.

WEAKNESSES:  

Walmart tends to hire more part time employees than they do full time.  

Hostility in some communities due to Walmart putting small stores out of business.  

Walmart has large operational costs that are connected with the highest staff turnover levels of the U.S. Firms and needs to raise wages now in order to attract new employees.

Involvement in multiple lawsuits involving business practices, unpaid wages and community activists trying to keep Walmart out of their neighborhoods.  

Opportunities:  

Economic recession will cause customers with low income to keep demanding lower prices.  

Increasing sales of groceries and food items will encourage people to eat at home, as health and wellness trends continue to develop.  

Growth in the Walmart technological capabilities will allow retail to serve a larger market.  

THREATS:  

Growing competition from internet based retailers as well as market place companies.

Other retailers can attract customers with a positive image.

Increasing concern about the company’s low wages and poor work conditions.  

Competitors offering employees better pay and full time positions, which can lead to benefits.  

If the economy continues to get out of recession, customers may target quality and personal image instead of low wages.