MKT 517 Topics Schedule: Spring 2012

Note: This schedule is tentative. Please check it frequently


DAYS TOPICS Text
January 31 First (real assignment-based) Live Meeting
Have read the following (2) articles available at www.study.net:
  1. Marketing Myopia
  2. Sustainable Advantage
Have read the (3) on-line articles about the definition of Marketing.
NOTE: links to the three online articles can be found on the Main MKT 517 web page, under the Heading: REQUIRED Readings (over the course of the semester). --- toward the very bottom of the web page.

Also, check out the following two Disc Golf Online Retailers: Wright Life.com and Disc Golf Center.com
Pretend you're looking for a new disc golf disc. Does one retailer seem to have a distinct competitive advantage over the other? How?

Discussion Questions:
   1) What is Marketing, and how and why has the definition changed?
   2) What is Business Strategy?
   3) What does Marketing Myopia have to do with Business Strategy?
   4) What is SCA and what leads to SCA?
   5) What are the hallmarks of Strategic Market Management?

Note: When you participate in the live class session you should be able to answer these questions. . . I will be asking you.

Submit your answers to these (5 questions) to turnitin by class time. Please use no more than 2 pages (single-spaced) or 4 pages (double-spaced) 		Chs 1,7
Couldn't partcipate in Live Session #1?
 Click here to download the Makeup questions for January 31.
February 14

Second Live Meeting
We will discuss the Asahi Breweries, Ltd. case, and if we have time, sustainable advantage and chapters 2-4
No additional discussion questions assigned for this session

Submit your case analysis to turnitin by class time.

Note: This is an older case (1989), but it's a good first case for many reasons.

Read/Study/Analyze the case "Asahi Breweries, Ltd."  Prepare a report for the president (Hirotaro Higuchi) which includes (at a minimum):
  • Whether you (as a highly paid industry expert) support the rather aggressive expansion plan or not.
  • A fairly detailed analysis of why you support (or don't support) the expansion.
  • Your analysis of the risk/return involved with this expansion.
  • If you do not support the initial expansion plan. . . what is your suggestion?

  • Additional assignment details:
    • Your report should be 3 pages or less.
    • You may work as an individual, or as a small group and submit a group report. (make sure all of your names are on it)
    • Submit your report to turn-it-in no later than class time, Tuesday night.
Chs 2-4
Couldn't partcipate in Live Session #2?
 Click here to download the Make-up questions for February 14.
Your answers to these make-up questions are due to turnitin on Friday night, February 24th
Here's a link to the video recording of Tuesday night's (Feb. 14) class in Portales: Mediasite Recording for Tuesday, February 14th 7:00-9:30
February 28

Third Live Meeting
Have read Chapters 5-8 and the Core Competence article
Discussion Questions:
  1. The "Green Products Movement" has been a cultural trend for some time now, but recent years it has grown to become very important. Discuss how major consumer products manufacturers such as Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson have responded to this movement.
  2. The major players in the eBook market seem to be Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, SONY and, more recently, Apple. Discuss/Explain how the concept of core competence is relevant in predicting which of these companies will be successful in the eBook market. Finally, which company (or companies) do you think will do well in this market, and why?
  3. Compare and Contrast sustainable competitive advantage with core competency.

Also Discussed: Final Paper Assignment - Here's a link to the Final Paper Assignment (.doc file)

Submit your answers to these (3 questions) to turnitin by class time. Please use no more than 2 pages (single-spaced) or 4 pages (double-spaced) 		Chs 5-8
Couldn't partcipate in Live Session #3?
Click here to download the Make-up questions for February 28.
Your answers to these make-up questions are due to turnitin on Friday night, March 9th
Here's a link to the video recording of Tuesday night's (Feb. 28) class in Portales: Mediasite Recording for Tuesday, February 28th 7:00-9:30
March 5
-March 23

Individual Meeting with Instructor

Schedule (and complete) a 30-minute meeting with the Instructor between March 5 and March 23.

The main purpose meeting is to discuss and approve your topic for the Final (research) paper in this class.

NOTE: You may NOT submit a Final Paper in this class thas has not been aproved by the Instructor!
Your Final Paper topic must be approved by March 23, or you will lose 10 points per day that you fail to meet and get your topic approved. (If your topic is not approved by April 13, you will receive an F for this course.
This meeting may be conducted in one of 3 ways:
  1. In person in Portales (in my office)
  2. Via WIMBA
  3. Over the telephone
 
 
March 27

Fourth Live Meeting
We will discuss Growth Strategies, "nuts-and-bolts" marketing concepts, the "New Points of Differentiation" article, and additional topics from chapter 14   Also Discussed: Price Elasticity, Brand Equity/Brand Loyalty, Repositioning.

Writing assignment: TBA.

Specific discussion questions: TBA.

Chs 14
Couldn't partcipate in Live Session #4?
Click here to download the Make-up questions for March 27.
Your answers to these make-up questions are due to turnitin on Monday night, April 9th
Here's a link to the video recording of Tuesday night's (March 27) class in Portales: Mediasite Recording for Tuesday, March 27th 7:00-9:30
April 10

Fifth Live Meeting
We will discuss the "Black & Decker" Case and possibly some topics in Chapters 9-12

Read/Study/Analyze the case "The Black & Decker Corporation (A): Power Tools Division"   You are Joseph Galli and you must prepare a report for the CEO of Black & Decker which includes (at a minimum):
  • Recommend one of the three options described on page 10 of the case.
  • A fairly detailed analysis of why you support that option.

  • Additional assignment details:
    • Additional Assignment Details
      • Your report should be 3 pages or less.
      • You may work as an individual, or as a small group and submit a group report. (make sure all of your names are on it)
      • Submit your report to turn-it-in no later than class time, Tuesday night.
Chs 9-12
Couldn't partcipate in Live Session #5?
Click here to download the Make-up questions for April 10.
Your answers to these make-up questions are due to turnitin on Sunday night, April 22nd
Here's a link to the video recording of Tuesday night's (April 10) class in Portales: Mediasite Recording for Tuesday, April 10th 7:00-9:30
April 24

Sixth Live Meeting
We will discuss the "Gazelle in 2010" Case and possibly some topics in Chapters 10-12
Read/Study/Analyze the case "Gazelle in 2010"  Prepare a report for the president (Israel Ganot) which includes (at a minimum):
  • A brief analysis of the strength and weaknesses of Gazelle's current business model/distribution strategy.
  • The pros and cons of creating an entirely new business model ". . . in which it would no longer take inventory of goods, but instead connect individual sellers with third-party buyers." (page 10 of Gazelle case)

      Some important things to think about as you prepare your paper:
    • Does "First-Mover Advantage" play a role here?
    • Who are their competitors now. . . and who might they be in the future?
    • What's happening with technological trends, and social trends?

  • Additional Assignment Details
    • Your report should be 3 pages or less.
    • You may work as an individual, or as a small group and submit a group report. (make sure all of your names are on it)
    • Submit your report to turn-it-in no later than class time, Tuesday night.
Chs 10-12
Couldn't partcipate in Live Session #6?
Click here to download the Make-up questions for April 24.
Your answers to these make-up questions are due to turnitin on Friday night, May 4th
Here's a link to the video recording of Tuesday night's (April 24) class in Portales: Mediasite Recording for Tuesday, April 24th 7:00-9:30

NOTE: In case one of the regular live class meeting dates is cancelled, May 8 will be the make-up live class session.

This schedule was last revised: April 25