MKT 315 Full Course Discussions GCU

MKT 315 Full Course Discussions GCU

MKT 315 Topic 1 DQ 1

Good companies adopt the marketing concept and focus on serving and satisfying their customers. Great companies take additional steps to ensure ethical behaviors that serve all stakeholders. Watch the video “Social Responsibility and Conscious Capitalism.” How does Dr. Gibb define conscious capitalism? Identify a company that you think displays behaviors that fit Dr. Gibb’s definition. What are those behaviors, and how do stakeholders benefit from the company’s conscious capitalism initiatives? In replies to peers, offer additional examples of behaviors and benefits, and discuss commonalities you see among the various examples provided.

MKT 315 Topic 1 DQ 2

Marketing plans describe the current situation for the product, service, or brand, and the plan for the future. What are the objectives of the marketing plan?  In other words, why is one needed?  What are the possible outcomes if marketers do not have a marketing plan? Provide specific examples to support your ideas. In replies to peers, discuss whether you agree or disagree with their position and justify your reply with specific reasons, facts, and examples.

MKT 315 Topic 2 DQ 1

Watch the video “Forms of Marketing Research.” Company A is thinking about bringing to market a new product in a category where it knows very little about the consumers or their needs and wants. Describe which forms of marketing research would be appropriate and explain why. By contrast, Company B has an established product and knows a lot about its customers. The company wants to measure customer satisfaction. Describe which forms of marketing research would be appropriate and explain why. In replies to peers, provide additional ideas for the types of research that could be used.

MKT 315 Topic 2 DQ 2

Watch the video “The Marketing Research Process.” What are the responsibilities of the client during the process? What are the responsibilities of the research team? Why are the interactions of the client and the team important during the marketing research process? In replies to peers, support or refute their positions using specific reasons, facts, and examples.

MKT 315 Topic 3 DQ 1

In the first paragraph of this chapter, the quote from Harold Coffin (1905-1981) stated: “A consumer is a shopper who is sore about something.” In essence, Mr. Coffin suggests that a marketer’s job is to tap into a problem, or create a “problem,” that can only be “solved” by the consumer’s purchase of a particular product. Based on this concept, describe how consumer purchase decisions actually serve to resolve an unmet want or need? In replies to peers, provide real-world examples from your own life to illustrate the point.

MKT 315 Topic 3 DQ 2

View “Consumer Purchasing Decisions” and “Technology and Consumer Behavior.” Based on your review of this chapter, you know that consumers demonstrate specific behaviors as they work toward purchasing a specific product. In addition, the text points out that consumers can arrive at a specific buying decision based on previous experiences with a specific product, a newfound awareness of the usefulness of a particular new product, positive reviews form customers who have previously purchased the same product, etc. Based on your understanding of the consumer buying process, compare and contrast how the consumer buying process and the organizational buying processes differ. Illustrate your ideas with specific real-world examples. In replies to peers, discuss whether you agree or disagree with the way your peers have differentiated between the two buying processes.

MKT 315 Topic 4 DQ 1

In their personal lives, people routinely purchase goods or services. At times, they “need” or “want” something new; or it is time to replace/replenish an existing product. Whether they need to purchase groceries, buy gas for the car, or stretch a bit to get that exciting new toy, their investment in “goods” is ongoing. Similarly, they utilize the services that companies provide to enrich, replenish, fulfill, maintain, or enhance their lives. Describe how a marketer could develop differing marketing strategies to target your personal use of goods or services. Provide a real-world example of a marketer who does this. Include links to relevant marketing pieces to illustrate your example. In replies to peers, discuss the effectiveness of marketers in targeting to personal use in the examples provided.

MKT 315 Topic 4 DQ 2

Sometimes a new product or service endeavor fizzles in the marketplace. Looking back, it seemed like a “good idea” at the time; however, it is evident that the promising new product or service is now headed toward obsolescence. Assume the role of the lead marketer of a struggling (or failed) product. Provide a detailed analysis of the product or service failure; and present a step-by-step description of how these (and future) product failures could be avoided. Include links to relevant marketing materials to illustrate your ideas. In replies to peers, discuss whether you agree or disagree with the analysis provided by your peers and explain why.

MKT 315 Topic 5 DQ 1

What is meant by marketing math in pricing? Discuss the significance of marketing math in overall marketing success. Provide an example that supports your ideas. In replies to peers, provide additional examples that support those posted by your peers.

MKT 315 Topic 5 DQ 2

View “Pricing and Breakeven Analysis.” A break-even analysis can be used to determine the amount of sales volume a business needs to start making a profit. List the formula used to conduct a break-even analysis and explain each component. Provide a real-world example of how the break-even analysis and formula could be applied. In replies to peers, discuss other marketing math methods that could be employed by the business as it tracks profitability.

MKT 315 Topic 6 DQ 1

View “Types of Distribution Channels.” In your own words, describe types of distribution channels and provide an example of each. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each using real-world examples. In replies to peers, discuss whether you agree or disagree with the pros and cons they have identified and explain why.

MKT 315 Topic 6 DQ 2

Provide a real-world example of a wholesaler, a distributor, and a retailer. Discuss the differences among them. In replies to peers, discuss whether you agree or disagree with their discussion of what differentiates wholesalers, distributors and retailers and justify your ideas with specific reasons, facts, and examples.

MKT 315 Topic 7 DQ 1

The communications process describes the interactions between a sender and a receiver of a message. Watch the video “The Communications Process and IMC.” Visit YouTube and find and watch a TV commercial for McDonald’s. Post the link to the commercial in your discussion.  Analyze the commercial using the communications model. Who are the sender and receiver of the commercial? Why are marketers at McDonald’s concerned about the encoding and decoding of the commercial? What is the central message of the commercial?  How do receivers provide feedback to the sender? In replies to peers, discuss whether you agree or disagree with their analysis of the commercial and explain why.

MKT 315 Topic 7 DQ 2

Watch the video “Advertising, Sales Promotion, and Public Relations.” Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each form of communication. Explain why marketers would choose to use each form within a consumer products promotion. Illustrate your ideas with specific examples. In replies to peers, provide additional illustrative examples to support the ideas presented and explain how your examples apply.

MKT 315 Topic 8 DQ 1

Watch the video “Sales Management.” Summarize the strengths and weaknesses of personal selling when compared to other forms of marketing communications. Discuss the role a sales manager plays in improving the overall performance of sales people. In replies to peers, discuss whether you prefer personal selling or other forms of marketing communications and explain why.

MKT 315 Topic 8 DQ 2

View “The Global Environment for Marketing.” As the marketer for Create Cookbooks, you have been tasked to expand the target market from a local to global presence. Currently, the company cookbooks have sold well at local bookstores, kitchen stores, and community college campuses. Describe a strategy that would enable your company to successfully market the product to an international audience. In replies to peers, discuss additional components that could be applied to make the strategy more effective.