That’s the NY Times headline. Not mine. Seems as if Wal-Mart has figured out they have to fight this battle. And are willing to bring in the competencies necessary to wage and win it. More from the Times piece:
Wal-Mart Stores
has begun circulating two senior-level job postings — both in public
relations — and if the language used to describe the positions is any
indication, the giant discount retailer is on the P.R. equivalent of
war footing.One job includes "opposition research," presumably
into Wal-Mart’s major critics: Wal-Mart Watch and Wake Up Wal-Mart. The
other requires the ability to "mobilize resources" during a "crisis
situation."The two jobs reflect how much life has changed at
Wal-Mart, which has come under withering criticism over its wages,
health benefits and treatment of workers. The company barely had a
public relations department in the early 1990’s, but now has a staff of
dozens, including a public relations war room full of former political
operatives who dispute the assertions of its opponents.The job postings, which were circulated by Crowe-Innes & Associates, an executive search firm, were given to The New York Times by Wal-Mart Watch, a group backed by unions and foundations that is pressing Wal-Mart to enhance its wages and benefits.
Here is a recent post we did on Wal-Mart:
ASYMMETRICAL CONFLICTS: WHY WALMART IS LOSING THE PUBLIC RELATIONS WAR
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