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MBA 565 course
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I need all weekly assignments completed except the simulation.

Saint Leo University Graduate Business Studies
MBA 565
Marketing
This course considers the operational and strategic planning issues confronting managers in marketing. Topics include buyer behavior, market segmentation, product selection and development, pricing, distribution, promotion, market research, international and multicultural marketing.
Prerequisites:
MBA 525
Textbook:
Kotler, P., & Keller, K. L. (2012). Marketing management (14th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. ISBN-10: 0132102927; ISBN-13: 9780132102926
Simulation:
PharmaSimMarketing Simulation (2009). Interpretive Simulations Access Code Card Group B. Pearson Prentice Hall. ISBN-10: 0136075126; ISBN-13: 9780136075127
Course Objectives:
The student, upon fulfillment of the requirements of the course, will be able to:
 Determine what marketing strategy can realistically be accomplished for an organization, whether
commercial, governmental, or non-profit.
 Determine when an organization needs to reformulate its marketing strategy.
 Identify and explain the highly complex interrelationships between the marketing variables that
must be considered in developing marketing strategy.
 Discriminate between the controllable and uncontrollable marketing variables.
 Examine basic changes in the external marketing environment that will lead to a change in
marketing strategy.
 Develop a mission statement that advances marketing efforts.
 Organize for successful implementation of marketing strategies.
 Evaluate the most effective techniques for gathering information, undertaking strategic analysis,
and formulating strategies.
Special note: successful marketing managers often possess:

(a) Knowledge of and facility in the application of marketing concepts. (b) Knowledge of and facility employing marketing lingo (terms).
(c) Oral and written poise in discussing and/or presenting marketing solutions to problems.
Important objectives of this course are to acquire such knowledge, hone described facilities, and practice executive level discussion, presentation, and writing poise. Students who accomplish these will enhance not only the branding of their own labor, but will also enhance the branding of the Saint Leo University MBA Program.
Saint Leo Core Value:
Community: Saint Leo University develops hospitable Christian learning communities everywhere we serve. We foster a spirit of belonging, unity, and interdependence based on mutual trust and respect to create socially responsible environments that challenge all of us to listen, to learn, to change, and to serve.
The Core Value of Community will be evaluated by having students perform in group discussions and evaluating members’ contributions to the team.
Evaluation:
Assignment Percentage
Quizzes (6) 12 Midterm Exam 14 Final Exam 14 Discussions (8) 19 Simulation
Initial Strategy Report 2 Performance 17.5 Final Report 17.5 Participation 4
Total
Grade Score (%)
A 95-100% A- 90-94%

B+ 86-89%

B 83-85%

B- 80-82%

C 75-79%

F Below 75%
Course Format
100%
The key element is active participation in the discussion of the assigned reading material from the textbook and the other articles, as well as completion of an online simulation, quizzes, and exams. In addition to reading, students will view video content related to the topics covered in each module.
Discussions
Each module will include a discussion assignment (Module 1 will also include an additional “Introduction” topic). For each discussion topic, you are required to post an initial response to the question, as well substantial responses to at least two classmates.
Moreover, each week your instructor will e-mail (or post as an announcement) a list of websites containing articles and events relevant to the material of the course. You may be asked to express your opinion on these topics in the Discussion Board as part of your discussion assignments. If the topic is very important, your instructor will have the freedom to replace the regular discussion topic for the week with one concerning the content of the website.
Quizzes and Exams
Modules 1-3 and 5-7 contain a multiple-choice quiz consisting of 20 questions based on the textbook chapters covered in the module. Note: Quiz 1 is 28 questions and includes questions from the PharmaSim manual (available at company’s website) and demo (accessible in the Course Home menu). Make sure that you have read and understand all the material assigned to a particular module before you begin the quiz. Given that you will have access to your book, the available time to take the test will be limited.
The Midterm and Final essay exams are due by the end of Modules 4 and 8 respectively. You will gain access to the questions at the beginning of the module and have the entire week to complete them.
PharmaSim Simulation
The PharmaSim simulation is a web-based computer simulation that allows players to work in teams competing against computer-simulated teams. On the first day of class, the professor will provide
students with a login ID and password, as well as the names of their group members and who the group leader is (only the leader can advance the simulation, but all members can purchase data and input decisions). Once you receive this info, go to http://www.interpretive.com/student and register (additional fee). Once you are registered, download the simulation manual from the website and study it carefully. Then, contact the other members of your firm using the Discussion Board created by the professor for your group.
Simulation Schedule
The simulation project will follow the schedule below:
Module 1
 Register for the simulation
 View the PharmaSim Demo (available via a link in the Course Home menu)
 Download and study the manual
 Contact other group members and start thinking about your firm’s strategy
 Practice individually (entire week, the first two periods with three replays per period)
Module 2
 Initial Strategy Report is due by Thursday 11:59 PM EST/EDT
 Decision #1 is due by Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT
Module 3
 Decision #2 is due by Thursday 11:59 PM EST/EDT
 Decision #3 is due by Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT
Module 4
 Decision #4 is due by Thursday 11:59 PM EST/EDT
Module 5
 Decision #5 is due by Thursday 11:59 PM EST/EDT
 Decision #6 is due by Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT
Module 6
 Decision #7 is due by Thursday 11:59 PM EST/EDT
 Decision #8 is due by Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT
Module 7
 Final Report is due by Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT (submit to Doc Sharing)
Module 8
 Evaluation of group members is due by Thursday 11:59 PM EST/EDT
 Discussion question: “Review all group reports and comment on one key strategic move that led
to each competitor’s success or demise.” (Initial post by Thursday 11:59 PM EST/EDT; responses to at least two classmates by Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT)
Initial Strategy Report
The Initial Strategy Report will count as 2% of your course grade. You must e-mail your professor (one per group) with your strategy (short- and long-term). “A successful firm will likely have a strategy that is well thought out and executed. Creating a sound strategy is the most important process your firm will undertake because your strategy is the framework for all decision-making and firm organization. The strategy should be a long-term vision for your firm that every member of your team can reference when making decisions and analyzing data. Strategy is defining segments served and creating a sustainable competitive advantage. It is your road map. It is where and how your firm chooses to compete. It is essential” (Interpretive.com, 2011). The paper should address the following elements:
 Business definition: Who do you want to serve and why? Be sure to include customers/segments to be targeted and customer needs satisfied. What is the rationale for these choices (e.g., segment attractiveness, market gaps, fit with resources, synergies)?
 Competitive advantage: What competitors will you complete against and how?
 Performance objectives: What are your firm’s performance goals (e.g., highest cumulative profit,
highest stock price, largest market share)?
 Key success factors: What is required of your firm to execute this strategy successfully (e.g.,
product development, outspend competition, first in market)?
 Strategic assumptions: For your strategy to be successful, what are the underlying assumptions
(e.g., first mover)?
In essence, your marketing strategy defines your team. How aggressive is its decision-making? How much risk is it comfortable with? Is it proactive or reactive to the marketplace? How patient is it with its decision(s)?
Final Simulation Report
The Final Report should describe your final results for all Allround brands by category. The written report must not exceed 15 double-spaced pages (12-point type) with one-inch margins, excluding title page and appendix. The report should not merely list the results, but detail what you learned during the simulation by addressing the following by category:
Manufacturer’s suggested retail price
Volume discounts and promotional allowances
Advertising budget
Selected advertising agency
Relative emphasis on the four types of advertising messages
Promotion’s budget with allocations to cooperative advertising and the three types of consumer
promotions
Sales force (number allocated to the five types of retail stores as well as to wholesale and indirect
support functions)
Segmentation
Product life cycle
Line extensions
Cumulative net income throughout the simulation and final stock price
What you anticipate would happen to the Allround brands in period nine
Your appendix must include:
Your firm’s initial strategy
Your team’s decisions, results, and interpretation of results for each of the eight periods
Graphs
Once your group finishes the report, one member will upload it to Doc Sharing to share with the entire class. The title of the report should include your group name, for example: “Group A_Report.” All students should have access to the other firms’ reports once the game is over so they can learn from their competitors’ insights and strategies. The reports form the basis for the discussion question in Module 8.
Simulation group member evaluation
The purpose of this evaluation is to give credit to those group members who went the “extra mile” or who did their fair share. Conversely, if any group member did not do his or her fair share (regardless of reason), he or she should not receive full credit. All evaluations will be kept confidential.
Use the point scale and table below to record your evaluations. Please be accurate and fair in evaluating each group member on the four dimensions listed below. You will not evaluate yourself. Email your evaluation to the professor by the due date listed above.
Attendance