Exploring Current Marketing Activities Objectives Analyze the role marketing plays in a company Generalize the types of decisions marketers make Discuss how ethical considerations impact marketing Assignment Overview In this assignment, you will research & analyze the role marketing plays in three different companies whose marketing activities have recently appeared in the news. After you complete your research, you'll prepare a short report in which you: Describe three companies' approaches to marketing as exemplified in their recent marketing activities. From what you have learned about these three companies, generalize the reasons these marketing actions were taken. Identify & discuss how ethical considerations can impact marketing decisions or might impact marketing activities. Deliverables A report (900 words or less) describing the companies' marketing activities. Your report should have the following headings: "Marketing Activities of Three Companies" "Reasons for Marketing Decisions" "Ethical Considerations in Marketing" Include a page of "Sources Consulted" from your research, which will not count toward the 900-word limit. If you uses sources directly, follow APA style (Links to an external site.) for citing references. Your references & citations will not count toward the 900-work limit. Frequently Asked Questions What is a report? A report is a form of professional communication of progress on a task, project or activity. Concise, clear and direct language should be used. Conventions of professional communication (e.g., headings, single-spacing within paragraphs, double spacing between paragraphs) should be used. Think "business report," not research paper or college essay. Need guidance or direction? Use this (Links to an external site.) excellent resource from Purdue OWL. In OWL lingo, you'll be preparing an activity report (Links to an external site.) and reporting on your activities (i.e., the steps to the right -->). You also may elect to use resources available at the Writing Center on your home campus. Grading & scoring: Submissions will be scored on the assignment rubric. If content exceeds 900 words, scoring will cease and the excess will not be scored. That's another way to say long & verbose submissions will not be rewarded: Edit & revise your draft. Step 1 Select three marketing topics from three different companies whose marketing activities have recently appeared in the news. Examples of possible marketing activities might include: Pricing Products or Services Advertising Distribution Supply Chain Target Markets (e.g., customer types, areas served) Customer Management Sustainability (e.g., reduce, reuse, recycle, upcycle) Product Tampering Social Media Sales Promotions (e.g., coupons, contests, black Friday sales, BOGO) Personal Selling & Sales Force For example, you might choose (1) pricing of a new model of Nike pair of shoes, (2) a revamped supply chain at Pepsi, and (3) a new promotional contest from Levis. (These are only examples; you are free to choose companies and topics of interest to you from any industry.) Topics which have been controversial in any way, perhaps by garnering unwelcome or unanticipated consumer attention and trade press, are well-suited to this assignment, although not required to complete it.