Not sure what to make of this, but it made my antennae twitch. Anyone have any insights, or is this a grunion hunt?

http://wal-mart.com/newsroom/is_promotions.html

Wal-Mart Announces Information Systems Officer Promotions

Bentonville, AR - January 20, 1999 - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has named its first ever assistant chief information officer in a round of promotions that includes six associates in the Information Systems Divisions earning the title of vice president. Including the six new vice presidents, there are now a total of nine company officers in the division.

"These promotions recognize the significant contributions of these associates to the company's success. They are a clear indication of the strategic value the company places in the Information Systems Division and the outstanding career opportunities available in the division," Wal-Mart Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer Randy Mott said. "These six will play a key role in Wal-Mart's continued global growth."

Kevin Turner, vice president of applications development, Wal-Mart Stores Division, is the first associate to hold the position of assistant chief information officer. Now 33, he was the youngest Wal-Mart associate to achieve officer status, doing so at age 29. Turner, previously the only vice president of all applications development for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., also was the first associate to receive the company's esteemed Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He will report directly to Mott.

Jeff Amos, Ken Gish, Carol Basnaw, Linda Dillman, Charlie McMurtry and Tony Puckett have been promoted from directors to company vice presidents. Amos will oversee the company's entire data center and network operations. He previously led applications development teams, field support functions and computer operations. Gish will direct the company's open systems technology. He previously directed all Wal-Mart POS applications development as well as Wal-Mart large systems technology teams. Carol Basnaw, Linda Dillman, Charlie McMurtry and Tony Puckett will lead the domestic and international applications development for all store and club formats, as well as all home office business areas.

Basnaw's previous experience included various business applications development strategies, computer operations and store systems. Dillman came to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. through an acquisition of The Wholesale Club and was responsible for Sam's Club applications development projects. She has been involved in both store systems and specialty areas' applications development projects for Wal-Mart. McMurtry's career spans more than 20 years, first as a vendor then as an associate. He previously was involved in applications development for Sam's Clubs, Hypermarts, store systems and merchandising projects, and was instrumental in the development of the first Supercenter. Puckett's experience included computer operations, technology and applications development. The length of service for these six associates ranges from a minimum of seven years to more than 19 years. All six have developed the majority of their careers within Wal-Mart's Information Systems Division.

"Never before have we had the quantity of such well-rounded individual leaders working together as a senior management team in our Information Systems Division," Mott said.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT) operates more than 2,300 stores and 450 Sam's Club units in the United States. Internationally, the company operates units in Argentina (13), Brazil (9), Canada (145), Germany (21), Mexico (404), and Puerto Rico (14), and under joint venture in China (3) and Korea (4). Wal-Mart employs more than 780,000 associates in the United States and 115,000 internationally. Computerworld, in its most recent rankings, named Wal-Mart one of the best places to work. Fortune magazine this year also has named Wal-Mart one of the 100 Best Companies to Work for in America. In 1997, the company raised and donated more than $102 million for charitable organizations. Wal-Mart (WMT) is listed on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges.

end snip. Im probably just full of beans.

Another story on their site mentioned that Sams Club sales for January 1998 were up 11% over the previous year. I know I did my part....

-- Lewis (aslanshow@yahoo.com), February 04, 1999

Answers

Grunions! I knew I left something out of my storage list...

E.

-- E. Coli (nunayo@beeswax.com), February 04, 1999.

Lewis,

We do know that Wal-Mart has just started their Fiscal Year 2000. Is there a connection? I don't know, but it is worth watching.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), February 04, 1999.

The reference I used for the Wal-Mart fiscal year information is the footnote at this page:

http://cgi.pathfinder.com/cgi-bin/fortune/fortune500/csnap.cgi?r96=4

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), February 04, 1999.

Hi Kevin, I think it might be more to do with:

". . . Wal-Mart says its warehouse contains a staggering 43 terabytes of data, which if printed out on 8=-by-11 sheets of paper and laid end to end would reach to the moon and back six times. It is larger than any other commercial data warehouse, and perhaps second only to the Pentagon's, according to industry experts.

". . .Some rival retailers can capture the personal identities of shoppers through credit cards or affinity cards. But Wal-Mart analyzes what is in the shopping cart itself. 'We carry over 100,000 items in stock at a Supercenter,' as the new larger Wal-Marts are called, Wal-Mart Chief Information Officer Randy Mott explains in a rare interview. 'The combination of [what's in a purchaser's cart] gives you a good indication of the age of that consumer and the preferences in terms of ethnic background.'

". . .That tight information link helps Wal-Mart work with its suppliers to replenish stock of products that are selling well and to quickly pull those that aren't. Since the manufacturers are so deeply involved, in some cases Wal-Mart even has them handle their own distribution, saving the retailer big bucks and increasing profit margins on cheaper goods. Clearly, Wal-Mart's investment in information technology will be shaking up the retail industry long after the holiday rush is over."

More of the USN&WR December 1999 article is at:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000R0j

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), February 04, 1999.

Old Git: Good post -- bottom line, they are highly dependent on computers working, reliably. Each store carries a different subset of goods, depending on geographical location (climate, etc.) and demographics. Their supply lines are global, dependent on communications and shipping. Not a lot of room for under- or over-inventory problems.

-- a (A@AisA.com), February 04, 1999.

I used to think Bill Clinton was the anti-Christ. I'm not so sure it isn't Wal-Mart.

-- Bub to you, Beelz (Rethinking@myposition.com), February 04, 1999.

Thanks for your insights, boys and girls. I think Old Git put it in perspective. Six new VP's probably just reflects the growing size and scope of their IT activities.

Well, if this is a piece of a puzzle, it's not a corner or an edge...

-- Lewis (aslanshow@yahoo.com), February 05, 1999.