Frederick Community College

 

BU225 Section ONL-1 Index 3044

 

 SPRING 2012

 

Class begins:

Jan. 30, 2012

Class ends:

May. 18, 2012

Last Day to Withdraw:

Apr. 16, 2012

 

Instructor Information:

 

 

Name:   Stephen P. Lloyd

Office:  N/A

E-mail:  slloyd@frederick.edu

Phone Number:  301-662-7302

Contact Hours: email and  by appointment for in-person meeting

Campus Mail Box #:  744

           

Course Information:

 

Credits:  3

On-campus Meetings:  ONLINE

On-campus Exams:  Exam One at FCC Testing Center. Exam 2 is online.

Prerequisites:  EN50A and EN52

Or ESL95 and ESL99

Corequisites:  NONE

 

Course Description:

 

Problems and organization of systems of distributing goods and services in the business world.  Promotion through retail and wholesale parallels, consumer-buying habits, pricing, budgeting, transportation and warehousing, sources and uses of marketing information are given attention.

 

Core Learning Outcomes:

 

1.         Recognize the relationship of the customer-centric approach to the four components of

             the Marketing Mix: Product, Price, Place and Promotion.

2.         Recognize the methodologies and disciplines required in Marketing Research and its

             data analysis.

3.         Describe the various forms and purposes of Market Segmentation.

4.         Explain the role of Channels of Distribution in a customer-centric approach to marketing.

5.         Analyze and differentiate between the forms of promotion and their appropriate and

             effective application.

6.         Discuss how pricing reflects the business’ long-term goals and strategies.

7.         Explain how Marketing integrates into the business’ operation.

 

 

 Instructional Methods:

 

Textbook/Assigned readings

Case study analysis/exercises

Videos

Discussion of current business-related events

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How is this Course Organized?

This is not a self-paced course. Students are to read text chapters, readings, etc. as assigned and meet all deadlines. The Topical Outline details the chronology of the class.

 

 

Text and Course Materials:

Marketing: An Introduction 10th edition, by Armstrong/Kotler  Prentice Hall  ISBN 13: 978-0-13-610220-5  ISBN 10: 0-13-610220-4 textbook is required. Additional readings/media as assigned.

 

Progress Report

Students will receive an assessment of their progress during the sixth week of class. The student will have the opportunity to make any adjustments (additional study, tutoring, conference with instructor) to assure success in this course.

 

Evaluation Method

Tests / Papers / Projects

Point or Percentage Value

Final Grade Scale

Exams  (2)

2 X 20 pts. Each =  40 points

90 to 100 = A

Written/Discussion cases (up to 10)

40 points

80 to 89 = B

Term Paper

20 points

70 to 79 = C

 

 

60 to 69 = D

 

 

Below 60 = F

Total

100 points

 

 

Academic Integrity:

Work in this course is subject to the provisions of the FCC Code of Academic Integrity. Plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated. As a student, it is your job to practice academic honesty at ALL times.  Make sure that all sources, particularly Internet sources, get proper credit for quotations, paraphrases, and ideas. More information about this and the Student Conduct Code are available at http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/studentpolicies.aspx

You must send your Academic Integrity Pledge to the instructor. The form is available at http://courses.frederick.edu/_utilities/regform.htm

 

Student Services

A variety of services are available to assist students in succeeding at FCC. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Student Services web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/index.aspx

 

Students with disabilities who are in need of accommodations or who have questions related to disabilities services should contact the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office at 301-846-2408. Students can learn more about these services by visiting the Services for Students with Disabilities web page: http://www.frederick.edu/student_services/disability.aspx .

 

Participation Policy

It is the student’s sole responsibility to acquire and maintain Internet access and e-mail capability. The student should check for e-mails and announcements at least three times each week. This is not to say there will be new information every time the student checks, but it will assure the student is aware of upcoming assignments, tests, etc. in a timely fashion. Failure to check the course e-mails and announcements is not a valid excuse for missing deadlines.

Written cases are sometimes team projects. Students may contact one another via FCC e-mail and/or Blackboard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Email Communication

With the exception of MOL students, all FCC students will receive and are expected to use their FCC email address for correspondence with faculty and staff at the college. Students can establish and access their FCC email accounts at https://myfcc.frederick.edu. Email is an instructional tool essential to student-instructor and student-student communication. In the Blackboard environment by default, your email address is available to all students in this course.

However, students are permitted to use email addresses of other students in this course only for the purpose and the duration of this course.

The instructor can be expected to respond to regular student email inquiries (grades, posted assignments, and tests excluded) within the time frame of 24 to 48 hours

 

Description of Cases:

Cases may be individual or team assignments and will be announced in Blackboard. The cases cover material discussed in the textbook and other reading, current events or videos. In the cases the student may answer questions, analyze an issue and/or recommend a course of action. The cases are short and capable of completion well within an hour. Cases are graded on how well the student(s) demonstrate an understanding of the concept at hand, thoughtful and appropriate application of the terms and concepts, and providing compelling rationale based on sound Marketing principles. It is NOT necessary to provide research sources for these cases.

 

Term Paper:

Students will have a choice of up to four topics for their Marketing term paper. In a typed, double-spaced paper with standard margins and no larger than 12-point type, the student will analyze an issue in Marketing. The length of the paper must be no fewer than six pages, not counting the Title Page and Work Cited. The paper is to be written and documented in MLA style. A minimum of five sources are required, not counting Wikipedia, or the textbook. The paper should be free from spelling and grammatical errors.

 

The Four Term Paper Topics Are as Follows:

1.         Frederick County now has a Wegmans Grocery Store in the triangle between Routes 15 and 26. Wegmans is a renowned for their variety, service, employee satisfaction and store atmosphere. The student will conduct research to explain why the Frederick location will be successful (or not). This research will include, but is not limited to: a demographic/psychographic profile of Frederick County, MD and its environs; the local competition; and those societal, economic, competitive and other factors that may affect the success (or failure) of this grocery location.

2.         In 2010 H.H. Gregg opened their consumer electronics/appliance store in Frederick County literally within 100 yards from the industry leader in that field, BestBuy. The student will write a well-researched term paper that explains how this decision to place a H.H. Gregg store almost “next-door” to a BestBuy will be a success (or failure). This research will include, but is not limited to: a demographic/psychographic profile of Frederick County, MD and its environs; the local competition; and those societal, economic, competitive and other factors that may affect the success (or failure) of this consumer-electronics/appliance store. The student’s research should include, but not be limited to: location analysis; demographic/psychographic profile of the area served by the two stores (including implications for the Internet); product/brand variety, pricing and promotion.

3.         The student will analyze an ethical situation in Marketing, and comment on how this illustrates (positively or negatively) the business’ ethics and social responsibility. The student MUST get approval from the instructor on his/her choice of the business to analyze.  The business must be one that deals with conventional consumers, and the ethical issue must deal directly with the consumer. The ethical issues the student shall analyze MUST be related to the Marketing Mix (product, price, place, promotion) as opposed to operations, employment policies, compensation/benefits, etc. unless the student can make a compelling argument for how those practices affect the business’ Marketing strategy. [As an example, this past holiday season, a local retailer offered for sale a Toshiba laptop computer at an extremely low price. However, each store had only a very few of these units available and told customers — once they were in the store and ready to make the purchase — that the customer could not purchase them anywhere, including the Internet, until well after the holidays. There was no mention in the advertising of the very limited supply of these laptops. Was this a deliberate attempt at “bait & switch” to get the holiday-panicked customer to buy a more expensive unit that was in stock? Or is it possible there truly was an unexpected popularity of the unit? Perhaps the retailer could have avoided the controversy by advertising that there would only be a very few units at each store. ]

 

 

 

4.         The student may choose an area of Marketing that appeals to them providing it has been approved by the instructor no later than March 15, 2012.

 

 

Term Paper grading is based on the following:

10 points                      Well-developed and researched reporting and analyses that demonstrate an understanding of the issue and providing a logical rationale for the student’s arguments based on the appropriate concepts and terminology from the textbook, research sources, and readings.

5 points                                    Logical flow of the reporting and analysis

5 points                                    Proper MLA style spelling/grammar/proper term paper format

The student must cite at least five sources for the term paper chosen. Non-internet sources will be worth one additional extra-credit point each on this paper. (However, these non-Internet sources may not be merely online versions of print sources; they must be original books, journals, magazine articles, etc.)

For each source cited that is NOT an Internet-based source, the student may earn one extra point. Wikipedia and the textbook are NOT acceptable sources for any of the citations. Students who have trouble in writing research papers or are unfamiliar with MLA style are encouraged to contact FCC’s Writing Center in L106 for assistance. The phone number is (301) 846-2619. Students are advised that the Writing Center has an excellent reputation for producing exemplary results with dedicated students.

 

Assignment Due Dates and Values:

Assignment

Due Date

Possible Score

Written/Discussion Cases (The topics will be made available at least one week prior to due date.)

Case 1 due 1/10/12

Case 2 due 1/17/12

Case 3 due 1/27/12

Case 4 due 2/10/12

Case 5 due 2/17/12

Case 6 due 4/6/12

Case 7 due 4/13/12

Case 8 due 4/20/12

Case 9 due 5/4/2012

Case 10 due 5/18/12

40 points (10 cases X 4 points each)

Exam 1

Week of March 5, 2012

20 points

Exam 2

Due May 18, 2012

20 points

Term Paper

Due May 7, 2012

20 points

 

 

 

TOTAL

 

100 points

NOTE: Date are subject to change by

the instructor!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructor’s Expectations:

a)         It is assumed the student is solely responsible for his/her e-mail and Internet connectivity.

b)         Students are expected to express themselves with the proper Marketing terminology in case papers, term paper and certainly exams.

c)         Things happen. Students would probably not take an online class unless they are otherwise occupied with employment and/or care of family. If these factors and/or other emergencies begin to impact the student’s ability to maintain normal progress in the class, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor as soon as possible. Vacations are not a valid excuse for missing deadlines. However, if the student has a vacation or other activity planned, it is the student’s responsibility to work out the course details with the instructor well before the vacation begins. It is possible that amenable alternate plans may prove impossible.

d)         All deadlines are considered firm. If circumstances prevent a student from meeting a deadline, advise the instructor ahead of time.

e)         Keep in mind that the instructor typically does not see you personally in an online setting. Hence, the ONLY way the instructor is able to assess a student’s understanding and progress is in what the students writes or communicates in discussions, e-mails, case papers, etc. This is why using the proper terminology and concepts from the course is necessary. It is unreasonable to assume the instructor “knows what you mean” when proper terminology is not used.

f)          Marketing is perceived by some as a controversial and sometimes provocative subject. The student may disagree with some Marketing concepts or practices, but is still expected to discuss and analyze the topic objectively, without personal bias. The instructor is not asking any student to change their personal ethics, morals or philosophies; only to keep an open mind and discuss the issues objectively. Disagreement can be valid part of the process of learning, as long as it is backed up with facts, logic and objectivity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Topical Outline:

Every effort will be made to keep to this schedule; however, because of current events and/or emerging trends in Marketing, the instructor reserves the right to alter or amend it as necessary. Additional dates, as published in the academic schedule of classes and listed below, may be required as make-up days for inclement weather.

 

 

Week

Week of

Subject

Content/Assignment

1

1/30

Introduction/Orientation Marketing: Creating and Capturing Customer Value

Chapter 1

2

2/6

Company and Marketing Strategy: Partnering to Build Customer Relationships

Chapter 2

3

2/13

Analyzing the Marketing

Chapter 3

4

2/20

Managing Marketing Information to Gain Customer Insights

Chapter 4

5

2/27

Understanding Consumer and Business Buyer Behavior

Chapter 5

6

3/5

Customer-Driven Marketing Strategy: Creating Value for Target Customers

Chapter 6

 

7

3/12

Review; Exam 1

 

 

3/19 to 3/25

SPRING BREAK

 

8

3/26

Products, Services, and Brands

Developing New Products

Chapter 7, 8

9

4/2

Pricing

Marketing Channels

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

10

4/9

Retailing/Wholesaling

Chapter 11

11

4/16

Communications

Chapter 12

 

April 16, 2012

Last Day to Withdraw from Class

 

12

4/23

Personal Selling and Sales Promotion

Chapter 13

13

4/30

Direct and Online Marketing

Chapter 14

13

5/7

The Global Marketplace

Term Paper Due

Chapter 15

14

5/14

Sustainable Marketing: Social Responsibility and Ethics

REVIEW

Chapter 16

15

5-14 to 5/18

Exam 2

 

 

NOTE: Dates are subject to change by the instructor!