Schedule of Classes

Conducting background research, developing an effective marketing presentation, exposure to presentation software packages, and making oral marketing presentations; sales presentations, background information on specific companies, competitive analysis, target market presentations, presentation of a marketing plan.

Selling-buying process. Selling strategies from the perspective of a professional customer problem-solving approach. Practical exposure to selling concepts, problems, and techniques in a variety of selling situations.

Elements of a comprehensive marketing plan and their interrelationships. Determination of product, pricing, promotion, and channel strategy: analysis, planning, and control of marketing strategy in a socially and ethically responsible manner. Emphasis on improving decision making in a dynamic external environment.

Systematic gathering, recording, and analysis of data related to marketing of goods and services. Choice of research design, methods of data collection, survey sampling, analysis and interpretation of data, and preparing the research report.

Behavioral science concepts applicable to the understanding of consumer decision making: personality, perception, and group and cultural influences. How these concepts can be used to develop more effective marketing strategies.

Managerial aspects of pricing and product policies and strategies. Methods used and factors considered in developing and updating product line and pricing decisions in industrial and consumer products. Pricing and product line objectives, product planning and evaluation, establishing product line distribution, environmental factors affecting product and pricing strategies, and quantitative aspects of product line and pricing decisions.

Introduction to advertising and promotions management from an integrated marketing communications perspective. Promotional techniques: advertising, sales promotion, direct marketing, publicity/public relations, personal selling, point-of-purchase communications. Techniques explored through the context of planning, developing, and implementing comprehensive promotional campaigns. Regulatory, social, and economic factors that influence the firm's promotional activities.

Analysis of sales management and decisions made by the sales force manager. Structure and organization of the sales force; nature of the sales job; selling in marketing theory; selection of sales personnel; sales training program; problems in compensation, supervision, and stimulation of sales personnel; analysis of territories and customers; sales forecasting and quotas; ethical problems in sales management; evaluating sales performance.

Examines the theories and practices used to plan, organize, and control exchange relationships in a global context. The approach will go beyond viewing exchange relationships from a strictly physical sense (movement of goods and services) to focus on the interaction between trading partners and how firms are using channel strategies to gain a competitive advantage.

Explores the game changing nature of social media and its impact on traditional marketing activities. Social media allows customers to interact with each other and the brands that they use on a daily basis in new ways. These advances/changes/disruptions may have profound influences on all marketing activities from product development through promotion. Course includes review of word-of-mouth-marketing and study of tools for shaping marketing activities surrounding emerging media (e.g., social networking sites, wikis, multimedia sharing sites, blogs, and virtual worlds).

Topics of special interest which may vary each time course is offered. Topic stated in current Schedule of Classes. May be repeated, for up to 6 hours credit in nonredundant topics.

Advanced study of professional selling techniques focusing upon specific knowledge areas and skills that contribute to competitive advantage, long-term customer relations, and customer satisfaction. Emphasis is placed upon students developing functional sales experiences, both individually and in group settings.

Comprehensive examination of nature, structure, and distinguishing characteristics of marketing to and between organizations. Unique aspects of organizational decision-making and buying from the seller's perspective. Exploration of requirements to manage strategy development, interfirm relationships, e-commerce, and innovation processes in firms marketing to organizations.

Systems and information needs of marketing management. Emphasis on integration of tools of information systems with knowledge of marketing in formulating and solving marketing problems. Impact of marketing decisions on key performance measures illustrated by cases, marketing models, and simulation.

Studies or research undertaken by well-qualified, advanced students under the guidance of a faculty member.

Advanced marketing or sales student experience in the field of professional selling. Both practical and academic components are included. The practical component will often take the form of an in-depth study of a sales-related topic, an experience in sales with a company, a research project, a sales simulation, or a blend of these or other elements that will be tailored to each individual student's needs. Repeatable up to 3 hours.