Wal-Mart's technological supply-chain sophistication is intended to provide "value for customers, associates, and shareholders. The system depends on Wal-Mart's 1.8 million associates to provide the final link in the value chain to customers. Wal-Mart's people strategy involves "[g]living our associates the tools and opportunities they need to be as productive as possible," which has enabled "workforce productivity gains in every quarter of the last two years "Associates who feel overworked may create a weak link in the value chain.