1. Other than a need to expand, what other reasons would Wal-Mart have for opening stores globally?
2. Why would it be beneficial for Wal-Mart to have suppliers in different countries?
3. Why would Wal-Mart want strong centralized control of its stores? Why would Wal-Mart want strong local control of stores?
4. What pitfalls and opportunities other than those mentioned in the Wall Street Journal article would Wal-Mart face over the next few years?
5. What are the sources of risks faced by the global supply chain and how can the firm mitigate the various risks?