BUSINESSSpring 2016Case Study 1: Walmart Store ClosingsWalmart, currently #1 on the Fortune 500 (htt

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BUSINESSSpring 2016Case Study 1: Walmart Store ClosingsWalmart, currently #1 on the Fortune 500 (http://fortune.com/fortune500/) ,recently announced that it will close 269 underperforming stores in the UnitedStates and overseas in a strategic move to strengthen the company’s competitiveadvantage. Please read the following articles about the announcement and answerthe questions that follow.Articles:http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/16/business/walmart-to-close-269stores.html?_r=0http://www.forbes.com/sites/lauraheller/2016/01/15/walmart-closesstores-retreats-from-growth/ – 2715e4857a0b2df1850434d0Questions:1. From the information provided in the above two articles and others you findon your own:a. Describe Walmart’s business model and how it has evolved fromwhen the company was founded to the present time.b. Describe Walmart’s competitive advantage.c. Develop a SWOT analysis (using a SWOT grid) for Walmart.2. Even as it closes 269 stores, Walmart continues to open new ones elsewhere.Discuss the strategic implications of such a seemingly contradictory move.