Wal-Mart is consistently targeted and highlighted in the news for critical reflection. Many criticisms are levied at the company for various causes including alleged employee abuse and inadequate support for employees. Others consider Wal-Mart a "mixed" blessing, suggesting that the company is a major employer providing ample jobs to thousands of people. Still others complain that Wal-Mart ultimately has led to the destruction of thousands of mom and pop shops that previously existed as the backbones of many communities. The aggressive pricing policies initiated by Wal-Mart are certainly cause for concern. Wal-Mart officials however would argue that their policies are simply a tool they use to conduct efficient business transactions. The company often argues it finds non-value added activity and work to pass savings on to consumers. Some even consider Wal-Mart "capitalism at its finest" funding a way to excel in unlikely places, as is the case with China, where Wal-Mart has been named the countries fifth largest trading partner. .

             This paper will assess the pros and cons associated with Wal-Mart. Among the considerations will include ethical considerations. The aim and objective of the researcher includes evaluating whether Wal-Mart is simply too big. .

             Pro Wal-Mart.

             Many have argued that despite Wal-Mart's seemingly aggressive approaches the company often offers services to clients they may not otherwise be able to access. As Cocheo (2003) notes many Wal-Mart locations for example, draw their customer base from rural and small town areas where basic services including banking services are not available. Wal-Mart fills a gap here, providing services these customers may not otherwise have access to. As much as 20% of Wal-Mart's customer base in these cases include members of small town or rural America that rely on Wal-Mart for access to various resources not easily acquired elsewhere, including financial services (Cocheo, 2003).