Business Case Studies & Business Publications

Wal-Mart Through An Associate's Eyes: Ri...

Isabella, Lynn A.,...

Case

Wal-Mart Through An Associate's Eyes: Ria Kumar's MBA Summer Internship (A)

Isabella, Lynn A.; Kumar, Alok

OB-0802 | Published March 15, 2004 | 17 pages Case

Collection: Darden School of Business

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Choosing the right summer internship can often mean landing a plum position in the company after graduation. Ria Kumar arrived fully prepped for the summer slot interview having studied industry reports, research articles, and analyst reports. She talked to alumni and even spent time at the local Wal-Mart studying the merchandising assortment and product placement. Not surprisingly, she was offered the 12-week internship. The disguised (A) case describes Kumar's 12 weeks and allows students to think about the issues her experience brings forth. Were there red flags? Was her supervision appropriate? Would she be offered a position post graduation? Would she want it? In the (B) case, Kumar decides to work part-time in the local Wal-Mart to gain an "in-store" perspective. Again, she behaved proactively as part of her strategy to get the job offer. The in-store-experience, however, left an unfavorable view of the organization in Kumar's mind. What had her expectations been when she started the part-time job? What did this suggest about corporate management practices?