"Long after the founder's death, WaI-Mart epitomizes managerial excellence. They have perfected their teachable point of view, which is communicated effectively throughout a massive organization. This is a timely and insightful book about a world-class company." -NOEL TICHY, AUTHOR OF THE CYCLE OF LEADERSHIP AND THE LEADERSHIP ENGINE

In 1992, WaI-Mart Stores was already the number-one retailer in America, with annual revenues of $43 billion (an increase of more than 30 percent from 1991!) when Sam Walton, the chain's legendary founder, died.

A little over ten years have now passed. Many Americans could not tell you the name of WalMart's CEO (it's Lee Scott), yet despite facing a critical challenge that has ruined many great companies-the death of a beloved and visionary founder-WaI-Mart has thrived. In 2002, for the first time, Wal-Mart actually reached the top of the Fortune 500 list, with revenues of $219 billion (that's 400 percent growth since 1992). Heading Fortune's Most Admired List in February 2003, WaI-Mart became the first company to rank number one on both Fortune lists at the same time.

PART ONE * WAL-MART TODAY

Celebrating in a Basketball Arena.

PART TWO  *  THE FOUNDER AND HIS LEGACY

The Man from Kingfisher

Give Me a Squiggly: Sam Walton's Culture

Avoid the Layers, Avoid the Frills

PART THREE * A NEW WAL-MART, A NEW TEAM

A New Management Team Follows Mr. Sam

A Strategy of Growth

PART FOUR  *  WAL-MART AS A GROWTH  ENGINE

The More Complex Wal-Mart Today

Applying the Culture a Store at a Time

Beyond the Seas: A New Outlet for Growth

Live Snakes and Turtle Races: Wal-Mart in China

PART FIVE  *  WHO DEFINES WAL-MART?

Mr. Logistics Takes Over

A Matter of Reputation: Taking the Gloves Off.

A Strategy for the Twenty-first Century:

The New Openness

PART SIX  *  WHITHER WAL-MART?

Where the Future Will Take Wal-Mart

Acknowledgments 223

Notes 229

Index 235