Advance Marketing

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Instructions
Case studies are an important learning strategy in business classes as they provide an opportunity for you to critically analyze events that have taken place in real-life businesses. This develops your critical thinking and research skills as you research the competition and industry in which your business resides with an end goal of formulating a recommendation for the challenges faced by the company.
Select one of the three case studies listed below, which can be found in your textbook. Evaluate the case of your choice, and respond to each of the questions below using both theory and practical managerial thinking as well as supporting research.
Option 1: Southwest Airlines (pp. 490–491)

  1. What       is the product and service model of Southwest? Who is their primary       target market, and how is Southwest positioned with this group?
  2. What       is the pricing strategy of Southwest compared to other airlines? Is this       a differentiating factor?
  3. What       risks does Southwest Airlines face both from a macro and micro       environmental standpoint?
  4. Can       Southwest continue to thrive as a low-cost airline when tough economic       times hit or as other airlines mimic its business model?

Option 2: Amazon.com (pp. 522–523)

  1. With       respect to the distribution, why has Amazon succeeded when so many other       companies have failed?
  2. From       a theoretical standpoint, what is Amazon’s pricing model? Why is this so       effective? How does this compare to their competitors?
  3. Discuss       how Amazon has used differentiation and positioning as two key components       in maintaining a competitive advantage.
  4. Thinking       about the changes in the macro and micro environment, what is next for       Amazon? Where else can it grow?

Option 3: Best Buy (pp. 554–555)

  1. What       were the keys to Best Buy’s success? How have they differentiated       themselves?
  2. What       pricing model has Best Buy adopted?
  3. What       are the challenges it faces in today’s retail environment from both a       micro and macro environmental standpoint?
  4. How       else can Best Buy compete against retail competitors like Walmart and       Costco as well as online competitors like Amazon.com?

In formatting your case analysis, do not use the question-and-answer format; instead, use an essay format with subheadings. Your APA-formatted case study should be a minimum of 500 words in length (not counting the title and reference pages). You are required to use a minimum of three peer-reviewed, academic sources that are no more than 5 years old (one may be your textbook). All sources used, including the textbook, must be referenced; paraphrased material must have accompanying in-text citations.