Marketing Principles Group Project Assignment

Identify the problems AAA

Teaching cases are typified by the presentation of a problem, or sometimes multiple problems, for the reader to systematically solve through the case analysis process. After initially reading or skimming the case, you should read through the case again for the purpose of determining what problems the main character (principle) in the case is faced with solving.
Analyze the situation.

After determining the problem faced in the case, you need to analyze the situation surrounding the focal organization in the case. At the core of this analysis is a SWOT analysis (SWOT is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats). Within the organization, what strengths and weaknesses does the company have? Externally, or outside the organization, what opportunities may be available to the organization and what threats could it face? If you are unfamiliar with a SWOT analysis, you can find a wealth of resources on the topic through an Internet search or at a library. Also note that other types of situational analysis techniques may be available other than the SWOT analysis.

SWOT

Strengths

Strengths describe the positive attributes, tangible and intangible, internal to the organization. They are within your control.
What do you do well?
What resources do you have?
What advantages do you have over your competition?

Weakness

Weaknesses are factors that are within your control that detract from your ability to obtain or maintain a competitive edge. Which areas might be improved?
Weaknesses might include:
Lack of expertise
Limited resources
Lack of access to skills or technology
Inferior service offerings
Poor location of the business

Opportunities

What opportunities exist in your market, or in the environment, from which you hope to benefit? These opportunities reflect the potential you can realize through implementing marketing strategies. Opportunities may be the result of:

Market growth
Lifestyle changes
Resolution of problems associated with current situations
Positive market perceptions about your business
Ability to offer greater value that will create a demand for your services

Threats

Threats may include:

Competition
Intolerable price increases by suppliers
Governmental regulation
Economic downturns
Devastating media or press coverage
A shift in consumer behavior that reduces your sales
The introduction of a "leap-frog" technology that may make your products
Obsolete equipment or services

Generate potential solutions

The next step in the case analysis is the most creative element, in which you generate a list of potential solutions to the problems faced in the case. This is a brainstorming activity, although it is typical to narrow the list of potential solutions to the two to four most reasonable options for solving the problem.

Evaluate potential solutions

After developing, and potentially narrowing, a list of potential solutions, evaluate the advantages and disadvantages, or pros and cons, of each. With each solution, what are its positive and negative characteristics and potential consequences if implemented? Is the solution practical to implement? Effective managers are able to analyze the virtues of each potential solution in the future, as well as what pitfalls could occur.

Choose the optimal solution.AAA

The final step in the case analysis process is to choose the best solution. Based on the advantages and disadvantages of the potential solutions examined in the previous two steps of this process, which do you believe is the right choice for the case principal and organization to take? Most important, you need to be able to support and defend this choice. Be prepared to answer the question of why you believe it's the right choice and backup your choice with facts, data, or examples.
Potential Questions to Ask

A SWOT analysis will answer these questions:

What are the internal strengths and weakness of your company?

What are the external opportunities and threats in your industry and its environment?

Can any weaknesses be converted to strengths? Any threats into opportunities?

How can your company take advantage of strengths and opportunities?

What strategic changes can your company implement as a result of the SWOT analysis?

Links of potential topics

http://thegbrief.com/articles/millennials-love-their-pizza-their-way-661

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/11/millennials-like-organiceven-if-they-have-no-idea-what-it-means/383006/

http://thegbrief.com/articles/millennial-expectations-are-reshaping-travel-industry-602