Author: chris

This assignment consists of two (2) sections: a marketing plan and sales strategy, and a marketing budget. Note: You must submit both sections as separate files for the completion of this assignment.

For the first six (6) months your company is in business—to give you time to perfect your product and to learn from actual customers—you will start marketing and selling in your own community, a radius of twenty-five (25) miles from where you live.

For most non-alcoholic beverages, marketing (as opposed to the actual product itself) is key to success. Cola drinks, for example, are fairly undifferentiated, as are many energy drinks, juices, bottled water, and the like. Companies producing these types of beverages differentiate themselves and attract market share through marketing and brand awareness—both of which are critical to success.

Section 1: Marketing Plan & Sales Strategy (MS Word or equivalent)

Write the three to five (3-5) page Marketing Plan & Sales Strategy section of your business plan, in which you:

1. Define your company’s target market.
   •  Support your analysis with actual data on the size of the demographic groups in your local community (nearby zip codes).
   • Outline the demographic information for your company specified on the worksheet in the course text (p. 107 | Demographic Description). Click here for help accessing a specific page number in your eBook.
     • Hints: At American FactFinder (http://census.gov), you will find demographic information on potential consumers in your area. If you are selling through other businesses (such as grocery stores), indicate the number of those businesses in your local area. You will find information about such businesses in your local area at County Business Patterns (http://www.census.gov/econ/cbp/). Check Chapter 2 of Successful Business Plan for more research sources.
2. Assess your company’s market competition.
   • Use the factors listed in the course text graphic (p. 123 | Assess the Competition) to assess your company’s market competition.
   • Defend your strategy to successfully compete against market leaders in your segment.
     • Hints: For example, in the soft drink market, it is intimidating to try to compete against Coke and Pepsi. Newcomers in mature markets typically must pursue niche markets or even create new market categories, as Red Bull did with energy drinks.
   • Defend your plan to differentiate yourself from the competition using the information detailed on the worksheet in the text (p. 131 | Market Share Distribution).
     • Hints: Every business faces competition and the non-alcoholic beverage market is an especially crowded market.

3. Clarify your company’s message using the information provided on the worksheet in the text (p. 160 | The Five F’s).
   • • Hints: Before you choose your marketing vehicles, you must determine the message you want to convey through those vehicles.
4. Identify the marketing vehicles you plan to use to build your company’s brand. Justify the key reasons why they will be effective. Provide examples of other non-alcoholic beverage companies that use these tactics effectively.
   • • Hints: If you plan to use online marketing tactics, refer to the worksheet in the text (p.171 | Online Marketing Tactics) to aid your response. Remember that even if you’re selling through grocery stores you need to build your brand and social media is a major part of that in regard to beverages. Some of the marketing tactics that beverage companies use include: sampling in grocery stores, building a following on social media, sponsoring events, exhibiting at trade shows attended by retailers, and so on. You will use a combination of these tactics. For example, if you decide to give out samples in grocery stores, promote your sampling on your social media networks and those of the grocery store.
   • • Hints: If you are planning to distribute through resellers, describe how you plan to reach them, for example, through industry trade shows or by establishing your own sales force. For information on trade shows, visit the Trade Show News Network (http://www.tsnn.com). You can exhibit or network at these shows.

5. Format your assignment according to these formatting requirements:

Section 2: Marketing Budget (MS Excel worksheets template)

Section 2 uses the “Business Plan Financials” MS Excel template (see: Course Required Files in Week 1). Use the “Business Plan Financials Guide” (see: Course Required Files in Week 1) to support your development of the Marketing Budget.

6. Complete the Marketing Budget worksheet for your company.

Select one of the three careers you identified and discussed in M1 Assignment 2and conduct a job search for actual openings in your area. If you are willing to eventually relocate, you may choose openings elsewhere as well. You may choose to use at least one source or all of the following sources to find available positions in your chosen career of interest:

• Local newspaper ads (online or printed editions)
• Networking websites such as LinkedIn
• Networking with colleagues, peers, or other contacts
• Your state employment office
• Listings on professional organizations’ websites

Refer to the “Job Resources” document to find additional online sources relating to online job searches.

Job Search Data Bank

Click here to download and review a copy of the “Job Search Data Bank” template. Provide the results of the mock job search you completed for this assignment by filling out the table in the template.

• Begin by summarizing your career interests. Briefly describe what you concluded from Module 1 about the types of positions best suited to your career interests. For example, if you are most interested in a career as a psychologist, would you prefer to pursue a position in a clinic, a private practice, or a nonprofit organization? Would you prefer to specialize in working with children? Do you hope to have a research or teaching position instead?
• List at least four positions you found during your job search. These four positions should match the interests you identified in Module 1.
  • Describe each position fully, providing as much of the available information as possible from the ads. Copy the ads and paste them into the table.
• For each identified job opening, indicate the likelihood of your being eligible for the position upon graduating from college with a bachelor’s degree.
  • If you would be ineligible, specify what additional training or education you would require to qualify for the position.
  • Indicate whether you are willing to pursue that additional training or education.
  • Describe the amount of time, the cost, and other resources you think you would need to invest to become qualified.
• Put the information in your own words. Place quotation marks around the portions you have quoted from the ads. Cite your sources using APA style in-text citations and a reference list in APA style below your table in the “Job Search Data Bank” template provided.

Write a four to six (4-6) page paper in which you:

1. Analyze the questions associated with your chosen case study and discuss them using concepts you learned in this course.
2. Explain your rationale for each of your answers to your chosen case study.
3. Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
   1. Typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
   2. Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
   3. Cite your textbook as a reference.
   4. Include a reference page. Citations and references must follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Determine the considerations for and process of ethical business decision making to balance corporate and social responsibilities and address moral, economic, and legal concerns.
• Analyze selected business situations using the predominant ethical theories, such as utilitarian, Kantian, and virtue ethics to guide ethical business decision making.
• Determine the implications and impact of various civil liberty laws in the workplace, such as hiring, promotion, discipline, discharge, and wage discrimination.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in business ethics.
• Write clearly and concisely about business ethics using proper writing mechanics

 

Part I

It is your first day at work and you are already confused. Export Unlimited (EU), one of the world’s largest shipping companies, has just hired you. EU ships goods all around the world by ocean, air, and train. It has offices in many cities in the United States and in other countries. You have been hired to work in EU’s Seattle office as an “Account Executive” for refrigerated goods. That is, you are hired to manage perishable goods (like apples or cherries) that need to be shipped from Seattle in refrigerated containers. It has been a quiet first day until your boss gives you the first big assignment. “Apples are one of Washington State’s biggest crops,” your boss says, “and I want EU to ship more apples to other countries. I want you to focus on Taiwan. One week from today, I want you to give me a marketing plan about what you are going to do to help EU carry more apples to Taiwan. If you have a good plan, you will receive a $10,000 bonus.” You think to yourself, “Now what?” You don’t have the first idea how EU could carry more apples to Taiwan.

What should you do? You decide to do some research.

• You speak to other people in the office to learn what they know about shipping apples.
• You e-mail Bruce Lee, EU’s sales representative in New Taipei, Taiwan, and ask him about EU’s business in Taiwan.
• You use the Internet and the library to learn more about exports from Washington State.
• You read everything you can find at the office about EU’s history and its business.

It takes a few days, but you finally are able to answer your three questions:

1. What does EU do to get apples from Seattle to Taiwan? You learned that EU sends three ships a week from Seattle to New Taipei, Taiwan: one on Monday, one on Tuesday, and one on Friday. Because some of these ships go to other places first, one ship each week takes 21 days to get to Taiwan, one takes 17, and one takes 15.

You learned that apples kept in a refrigerated container can stay fresh for a 22-day trip. However, most customers of perishable goods want the 15-day trip. You also learned that EU’s refrigerated containers guarantee EU customers their apples will stay at exactly the right temperature, neither frozen nor too hot. Finally, you learned that EU can promise customers exactly when their goods will leave Seattle and when they will arrive in New Taipei.

2. What is Washington State’s apple business like? You learned that farmers in Washington State grow twelve different kinds of apples. Washington apples are sold around the country and around the world. You also learned that Washington State sells 15% of all fruit exported from the United States to other countries.
3. Do people in Taiwan want to buy apples? You learned that people in Taiwan do indeed buy Washington apples. Their favorite is the Fuji, a spicy-sweet apple. Unlike Americans, who often buy apples in big bags, you learned that people in Taiwan tend to buy apples one at a time, paying special attention to how ripe, shiny, and well-shaped they are.

 

You also learned that people in Taiwan buy more apples during holidays or festivals, using these apples for gifts or as offerings at shrines or temples. Washington apples can be sold year-round because those that aren’t sold at harvest-time are kept in controlled atmosphere warehouses to “put the apples to sleep” until they are needed. Taiwan’s biggest apple-buying holiday is the Chinese New Year, which usually falls around the end of January.

You have learned a lot of information in just a few days, but you still don’t know enough to write a marketing plan. What should you do next?

 

Part II

 

“Of course!” you think, “I need to figure out who my customers are. I have to write this plan for my boss, but it is my customers who will decide whether or not to ship more apples.” You decide to do some more research. You determine that you have three kinds of customers:

• First, there are the apple farmers in Eastern Washington. You have to convince them to trust their apples to EU.
• Second, there are the apple traders who buy and sell the apples.
• Third, you will work with the grocery store owners in Taiwan who will sell the apples once they arrive in Taiwan. You have to convince them that apples shipped by EU will arrive in good condition.

You would have to get to know each of these types of customers and convince them that EU could do the best job.

• You have to convince the apple farmers that EU could deliver their apples safely and quickly to Taiwan. You have to convince them that EU would do a better job than any other shipper.
• You have to convince the apple traders that EU would not only deliver the apples safely, but also that EU has good connections in Taiwan. You want them to see that working with EU would make a trader’s job easier.
• Finally, you have to convince the grocery store owners in Taiwan that EU would ship them only the finest Fuji apples and that those apples would arrive in good condition just at the time they were needed.

Now you just have to turn all of this into a presentation for your boss and hopefully receive a $10,000 bonus.

Getting the basic information or doing research is the first step in this or any other problem when you do not know enough to solve the problem by yourself.

 

Task #1: Prepare detailed answers to the questions below. You may use additional sources of information as necessary to obtain export marketing information.

 

Information about EU

1. What do you know about EU?
2. What kind of services does EU offer to Taiwan?
3. Is EU good at shipping apples?
4. How often does EU send ships between Seattle and Taiwan?
5. How long does it take a ship to get to Taiwan?
6. Is it even possible to ship apples that far before they spoil?

 

Information about Washington Apples

1. When are apples harvested, and what happens to them after harvesting?
2. How are the apples shipped?
3. What kinds of apples do Washington State farmers grow?
4. What is the volume of apples that are exported?
5. What are the primary export markets for apples and how many apples are exported to each market?

 

Taiwan Expectations of Apples

1. What is the current consumption rate for apples in Taiwan? What kinds of apples do they prefer and why?
2. What are the Taiwanese buying habits, with respect to apples? How are they different than US consumers?
3. What kind of apples do people there prefer?
4. Are there certain times of the year that they are most likely to buy apples?

 

Information Tools to Solve Problems

How can you get the information you need? Identify at least six sources of information.

 

Explaining the Marketing Plan

1. What do these customers want to know about EU?
2. How can you convince them that EU could do the best job or better job than any other shipper?

 

Task #2: Write a Marketing Plan

 

Write a 1-page memo to the boss outlining the steps you will take to get Washington apple farmers and Taiwan grocery store owners to use EU (Would you meet with them, send them information about EU, take out ads, and try to match up buyers and sellers, etc.?).

 

Task #3: Write a personal reflection on the topic addressing the main objectives of your export marketing position. Consider the key factors that influenced your plan for the company’s market expansion. Also, reflect on the role of the Christian employee and discuss key biblical principles that support your position.

 

For your marketing plan to be a good one (and for you to get your $10,000 bonus) you really need to gear it to the needs of your customers: the apple farmers in Washington State and the grocery store owners in Taiwan.

Read the latest press release from the Fed (FOMC) and write a 2 page essay (+ cover sheet) addressing all the following questions:

 

 

1. How do you think the Fed has addressed the recent crisis and what are the monetary policy actions the FOMC took in the September meeting?

 

 

2. What is the current state of the US economy? Define how GDP is doing in each of its components (Consumption, Investment, Government Purchases and Net Exports).

 

 

3. What is the current state of unemployment and inflation? How is that important for the Fed? (Make sure you use the concepts learned regarding unemployment and inflation and the monetary policy tradeoff between the two)

 

4. What policy action do you think the FOMC will take in its December 15-16 meeting? What would you do if you were in charge of conducting monetary policy? Why?

Deliverable Length:  See assignment description

You were recently hired as management director of the new I Can Business Incorporated (ICBI). You have been asked to establish policies and systems for the business. The first one you choose to work on is a financial reporting system.

For this assignment, you must develop a 4-5 page memo that you will deliver to the board of directors of ICBI. You will describe what a financial reporting system is and explain how management of ICBI should use an activity based budget instead of an operating budget. Be sure to explain the similarities and the differences of the two. Finally, give examples of budget guidelines for ICBI. You must answer the following questions:

• Describe the meaning and the components of a financial reporting system.
• Explain the budget cycle and process.
• Write a description of how management should use an activity based budget instead of an operating budget
  • Explain the similarities and differences of the two budgets
• Give an example of budget guidelines that ICBI should follow in order to successfully plan.
  • Identify and describe at least 5 basic budget guidelines.

Remember to use the library or other credible resources to support your argument. Be sure to cite your sources using the correct standard of APA.

 

 

 

1. Purpose: Include a summary of the reasons for using this particular method for this study.
2. Sample Selection

Who will be the interviewees? How many participants will you interview? How will you select your participants (e.g. randomly, snowball, convenience, purposive sampling) and from where? What is the rationale for this sampling strategy? Refer to your research methods books for details on how to select participants for qualitative research/interviews. 

3. Consent process

Give details of what information will be given to participants prior to participation. It is important to give the participant time to think about the study and what participation will mean for the individual. Consent is therefore sometimes requested prior to the date of the event, but most often at the time of the interview.

4. Conducting the Interviews

Describe the characteristics of the location to be sought by the interviewer for the interview to take place, such as a private place outside of the school, and what equipment and materials will be needed.

 

Describe the process of revision of information and gaining consent, if relevant, at the start of the interview. Make sure to include description of any incentives to be provided for participants.

 

Provide details of how interviews will be recorded, for example note taking or tape recording. Justify the use of the method(s) chosen.

 

State that the interview questions and protocol are found as an appendix. (Since your survey will be Appendix A, the protocol and interview questions will probably be Appendix B.)

5. Data Analysis

Describe methods transcribing interview(s) and when this will be done.

 

Provide details of how you will analyze the data. (Your textbook is a great resource, but there are countless qualitative methods books you are free to use.) Be sure to cite correctly and include the citations on your Reference page.

Assignment 3: Benefits of Business Analytics

Business analytics can provide a significant benefit to organizations. If the organization utilizes business analytics and analyzes the data correctly, they will be able to make informed decisions that will benefit the organization in many ways. They could use it to make decisions to address not only short-term company goals but also long-term strategic planning.

Using the Argosy University online library resources and the Internet, research two businesses within the same industry; one that utilizes business analytics and one that does not. Select at least 2 scholarly sources for use in this assignment.

Respond to the following questions:

• Compare and contrast the two companies in terms of their use of business analytics to improve their position in the industry. You may select an organization you currently work for or one that you worked for in the past.
• Provide your rationale as to whether or not the use of data analytics has helped the company accomplish its goals.
• Describe the challenges the company may have faced by choosing to utilize business analytics that the other company did not face.

Make assumptions based on company history where required. Utilize at least 2 scholarly sources in support of your assertions.

Make sure you write in a clear, concise, and organized manner; demonstrate ethical scholarship in appropriate and accurate representation and attribution of sources; display accurate spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Instructions

As we approach the end of the semester, I want you to reflect a little on what you’ve learned over the term. Please answer the following questions:

 

What were the biggest challenges you faced in achieving success this semester? Why do you think these were challenges for you?  How did you overcome these challenges?

What challenges do you anticipate facing in future semesters, and what strategies will help you achieve success in college? Or what advice do you have for yourself for next semester?

 

 

• I want theses answers here to be in good paragraphs, its reflection no essay.
• I want to explain all my points there simply.
• I am ESL student so my writing should be very simple.
• The main point is that I want to be successful and keep a high GPA until I graduate.
• Look at his questions first thing in the page and try to match my answers in the same order.

 

 

The biggest challenge is receiving A for all my classes.

That was a challenge for me because I wanted to receive the highest

GBA so I can take care of keeping it high until I graduate from the university.

I overcame to have a high grade for each class in this semester.

The same challenge will stay in my mind until I graduate in addition to other challenges depending in the class that I am going to take in the future.

I want both my major classes and general education classes to be high grades.

Strategy is to do everything on time and never be late so my GPA will not suffer from late work and I lose grades for that. Also study on time will make classes easy for me to understand the lessons during the semester and to be prepared for final exams. According to that, I will only review for the finals.

 

I advice myself to look for a lot of pay a lot of attentions for all my classes in the future so I can pass them easily and successfully. what I have mentioned here. So I can find my success for future.

Come early to classes never be late.

Do my homework early.

Take note to help me with finals.

Have a study guide for all classes.

 

I don’t want my GPA to be affected by anything of that.