Overview

In this assignment you will conduct primary market research that will inform your marketing plans.

Scenario

You are now ready to learn more about the business, refining and researching the central questions or areas you identified in your engagement letter and more. You will need to understand factors including the service, geographic area, customers, competition, and pricing. Your findings will inform your marketing plan.

Preparation

1. Define your central research area/questions. What questions should you be asking? How and where should you spend your efforts?
2. Identify resources that will likely help you answer your questions.
3. Download and review the Market Research Template [DOCX]. You will use it to complete this assignment.
4. [Optional] Download and review the Market Research Ideas and Concept Sheet [DOCX]. Use it as a way to focus your thoughts as you begin your research. It is not to be turned in.

Instructions

Conduct your primary market research and document using the Market Research Template. The completed document should do the following:

• Define the research problem or challenge. (It should state the elements, questions, or problems that your research is designed to resolve)
• Summarize your overall research approach, focus, and methodology (How will you obtain the information/data).
• Present data (and its sources) that support answers to your main research questions and stated challenges in an effective manner. It should minimally include data on:
  • The 4 P’s of Marketing.
    • Product (in this case, service).
    • Price.
    • Placement.
    • Promotion.
  • Competitors.
    • Number, services, location, market share, etc.
  • Customers.
    • Demographics, location, income, education, etc.
• Synthesize your research: Describe and prioritize two or three research conclusions that will likely guide your marketing plans. Make sure to highlight and summarize pertinent information from your sources that support your conclusions.

Additional Requirements

• Resources: Cite 6–8 sources used in your research. Choose sources that are credible and relevant.

The specific course learning outcome associated with this assignment is:

• Conduct market research to inform marketing strategy and planning.

Help me study for my class. I’m stuck and don’t understand.

1. Examining your experience as a reader, identify at least three literary texts that have made an impression on you. For each text, list the following:
   • title, author, date of publication, and any other citation information you can find; and
   • when you read the text and for what purpose.
2. Choose a favorite text and explain why it made an impression on you. In one or two well-composed paragraphs, address the following:
   • Why was it impactful?
   • How did it make you feel?
   • What did you learn from reading it?
   • Do you think it can be classified as literature? Why or why not?

Option #1: NPV for 5-Year Project

For this exercise, you need to calculate the NPV for a project described below. Make sure you study the “Numeric Models: Profit/Profitability” section in Chapter 2 of the textbook before trying to solve the problem. You are the manager of a construction company with a five-year project that has a projected net cash flow of $25,000, $35,000, $45,000, $20,000 and $15,000. Implementation costs are $50,000. The company has a required rate of return of 20%. Compute the discounted cash flow and determine the NPV. Include your calculations in an appendix after the references page. Include information on what projected net cash flow, discounted cash flow and NPV are, why they are useful in project selection, and, given the numbers, if this example project meets the company requirements, and why or why not

Objective: To better understand how music reflects personal and social identities of an individual or group.

Requirements: Write an essay (minimum two pages) discussing a particular song or composition that you feel best expresses your personal and social identity.

Tell me about you, your major, your passions/hobbies

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Music is a manifestation of the personal and social identities of an individual or group. The function of the music, the structure of it, the context in which it is performed, etc., all reflect the cultural environment that surrounds a musical performance and indicate significant values of the people who create it. Recognizing and understanding how music reflects the identity of a community is an important means of “getting to know” other people and how music expresses who they are.

I want to get to know you and discover what music says about who you are. I assume that you consider music an important element of your life. Undoubtedly, most of you listen to many kinds of music, i.e., classical, rock, rap, gamelan. Your task is to choose one example of music that you feel best expresses the many facets of you. This might prove more difficult than you think if you put some thought into it. Don’t tell me what music means to you, explain how the example you have chosen represents who you are. For example, as an American, what one example would you choose to reflect your “American” identity? Does Rap define who we are? Johnny Cash? Norah Jones? Ray Charles? Does the music of Mozart and Beethoven represent us, even though its origin is European? How about Jazz? What kind of Jazz? Which composer and from what era? Defining “American” identity through one example of music is impossible, yet in this class (and others) we only have time to focus on a few examples from countries often much larger than the USA and with histories much older than our 225+ years of existence as a nation. Yet, through just a few music examples the spiritual beliefs, political philosophies, attitudes and activities of many aspects of life are revealed. We are able to learn something about the people of other cultures and gain a greater understanding of who they are. So, ask yourself some questions: What music do I like to listen to? What music do I like to perform? Why? How does this music reflect me personally, my philosophy of life, my goals and desires, my spiritual beliefs, my personal history and life experiences? How does this example reflect my social identity, i.e., the friends I have, the organizations I belong to, the activities I participate in, etc.? Start with some of these questions and soon you’ll think of more. Then pick ONE example that says it all (or as much as it can) and tell me about it and why you picked it. I’m looking forward to getting to know you better.