Questions:
1. Identify and discuss the ways in which consumer and business goods and services can be classified.
2. List and explain the purpose of each step of the new-product process. Describe the factors contributing to a new product's or service's success or failure.
3. Focus group interviewing is both a widely used and widely criticized research technique in marketing. List the advantages and disadvantages of focus groups. Some experts suggest that the next frontier for focus group research will be the Internet. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the Internet to conduct focus groups? To answer this question, you are encouraged to do outside research on focus groups and how they operate.
4. Assume that your favorite grocery store has implemented a store service card - or maybe they already have. The card allows customers to receive special discounts and cash personal checks. Beginning with the registration process for the card and continuing through its use at the checkout stand, discuss all the types of data that could be collected and how the information data can be used to build customer relationships. One of the best places to get additional information on this subject is to ask the manager of your local super market. Kroger and Harps use these cards but Wal-Mart does not. You could ask these stores about them.
5. Here you may discuss with your classmates whatever you found most interesting in this week's chapter(s). This forum is optional however good quality posts to this area will enhance your overall participation grade.
6. Discuss the new product development concepts covered in this video. How will new technology such as 3dprinters and work-flow software change new product development?
7. "How does this course relate to the real business world?" There are literally hundreds of stories written each week about the marketing environment. Here you can post a summary of and discuss relevant articles about marketing that you have read. Please explain why you think it is relevant to the course and include a link so that other students can read the whole article if they wish. Please do not post entire articles to the discussion board.
8. "How does this course relate to your everyday life?" Marketing is part of all of our lives and touches each of us in some way almost every day. Throughout this course you will all shop and buy things using the principles discussed in the book. Here you can post stories about your personal marketing experiences relevant to the course. Along with your discussion comments please explain how your experience is related to the material we have covered.