Emerging Themes in Marketing and Employment Experience - Essay Example

Employment Experience Journal Module: Global business This module was extremely useful in the way it opened myeyes in this area. I was able to learn many factors that are crucial in a global business environment such as global culture. This module also helped also in understanding the other issues I have learned in previous modules and I linked them up to comprehend the meaning of most of them. According to Peng (2010, p.13) the topic of global business is unusually wide and it is as such crucial for students to take it seriously when studying it. During this module however, I found myself having a number of backlog in terms of my course works and assignments and made it more challenging for me especially in internalizing the various theories in the module. The things that I learnt about in this module will help in working in a global business environment. This will also be useful because modern firms, even those which don’t operate globally, have to work in a global arena and apply the tools that are necessary to operate in a global business environment. I was able to understand the various issues that are revenant in a modern business environment and how the global business environment came to be. Regardless of the many challenges that I had during the module, I was able to actually enjoy the module and I believe most of the things I learnt in the module will be useful in my future, either in employment or in operating my own business. Specifically, it is necessary to me because intent to start a web based business and operating a website is like operating a global business. Through this module and the personal research that I carried out, I am now able to help a business to identify the high volume area that it can used to access across worldwide market and use this as the basis if it is expanding to the international business (Blyth & Zimmerman, 2005). Module: Emerging themes in marketing This module was one of the most intriguing modules to study. I was able to learn a lot of things about modern marketing. Again, this module provided me with knowledge that wills be useful both in an employment environment as well as an entrepreneurial environment. While taking this module, I was able to have a few brainstorming with friends of mine and we were able to brainstorm on the various issues which were raised in the module and how valuable they are. This module provided me, and hopefully most of the other students, with a good foundation to roll out a successful career in marketing, especially with regard to modern business environment and global competitiveness. It was probably my deep interests in the issues that were being covered in this module that makes it much easier to understand the issues and seen how I can apply. Marketing is an intensely practical subject because it has to do with dealing with people and that is necessary to me as I find it not only entertaining. The market concept This was a unit within the emerging themes in marketing module and I was able to have a closer look at the market and what the market certainly is. I was able to link a number of market factors such as mass production, product orientation, the sales orientation and the customer orientation and how each of this plays a role in marketing. This unit provided me with a deep insight in the marketing concept and especially in developing a marketing strategy. Social significance of marketing Within this unit, I was able to understand further concepts of marketing such as relative deprivation, materialism, and societal marketing. Who for instance is responsible for consumption decisions? etc. These factors are extremely useful in making sure that good marketing is achieved and that competent marketing is applied. I will surely in practice and theory benefit as I embark on my career and have a successful operation in my career. I was interested in social marketing which is a study in the ethical responsibility of the for profit marketing. After studying the concept of social marketing, I was able to change the way look at marketing. The information that I learnt about relative deprivation, and especially in UK, was not only shocking but also enlightening. I tend to believe that this knowledge will be extraordinarily useful in making my career a successful and also applying the best ways in which to develop a good marketing strategy that considers the actual data. During this unit, I was able to know that there are a lot of people who still can’t afford leisure spending despite the fact that national leisure spending is growing. This means that there are people who are becoming poorer and poorer while others are become richer. This economic information is hugely essential for me to develop my careers and I believe this will aid on the way I prepare for my career launch and especially as I prepare to start my business. Ethical issues in marketing I have been able to learn the ethical issues in marketing and the ethical responsibility that I, as a marketer, should be able to apply in my career. I think this was one of the most helpful courses that I have taken in this case. Also the lectures were extremely educating and well articulated and I believe that I will use this in my career. I was extremely passionate about this particular unit because of a number of things. First, I believe that it is hugely valuable to have an ethical approach in marketing. This unit did not just point this point but was useful in helping me to look at the several many ways in which I can ensure that I am applying ethics in my careers. I consider this to be extraordinarily useful because I believe that integrity is fundamental in developing a successful business and a successful career. For instance, when researching a certain market, it is essential to give the respondent the anonymity he or she needs (Schlegelmilch, 1998, p69). Module: Place branding and marketing This was another fascinating module that I have coveted in the course so far. However, it found me in a time when I was having a number of issues and trying to make up for in number of course works issues, revising for examples and trying to brush up in other modules did not make it easy for me to cover this topic well enough. Place branding is an extremely vital aspect of marketing. I was able to run how various elements about a place can be used to create a brand based around that pace, such as the cultures and attitudes of that area and is made of the long term activities of such an area (Moilanen, and Rainisto, 2008). Although I don’t consider to be extremely critical to the development of my future career especially because am it is not a core issue in marketing, I believe that it may come to be decisive in the future, should the opportunity present itself. Place branding and marketing is also quite a new outlook in marketing and it is becoming more commonplace. I feel I should be able to brush up on this to be able to have a better insight because the opportunities in this area may present themselves to me in the future. On average, I can say it was a difficult module, I believe I will be able to perform considerably well in this module. Despite the challenges I was having, remembering what to cover through lectures will be necessary to get a good knowledge of the core issues covered in the courses. According to Baker (2007, 75), the first step in place branding is to know where the place stands in the global arena. Places as brands Before taking this module, I was not aware about place branding and therefore by extension I was not aware that places, such as cities and countries can be branded and marketed as products. This lecture of ‘places as brands’ helped me in knowing about this and I also think it introduced me to opportunities. I think I can do well in this and I look forward to look into this area the moment I am through with my university works. This was one of the lessons that I was exceedingly comfortable with and I had no issues and it was one of the areas where I had some fun learning. I want to believe that I gained enough practice and theoretical skills on this area and I know that it will be pivotal in making my career a success and also my business once I start it. Strategy and change In learning this module, I was able to get new insights into a number of things such as managing change and why it is good in a business environment. According to Business Balls (2012), change management involves meticulous planning and involving concerned parties. The lessons learnt in this module will be beneficial in the business environment in that it will help in managing change in the workplace. According to Jones, et al (2004) change management is one of the most challenging parts of any management positions in a business environment. The basics I learn in this module will be pivotal in managing change and helping to understand the actors that effect successful change process. I was able to learn that strategy and change are the same. The business has to keep changing its strategy to be able to manage remained competitive in the short run. For this reason, I believe that I will benefit the most from this module. During this module I put an extra effort tin trying to make sure benefited from it. I was trying to work on my time management issues and I tried to see how I can manage my time and am able to succeed in trying to achieving more in my academic and personal life. I used this module as my training to improve my productivity and I hope that I managed to know as much as possible from the module. I intent to make sure that I will apply the lesson learnt in the module with the first opportunity I get. I was also able to understand the essential of alignment the strategy to the needs of the various stakeholders especially capital owners, the government, the customers and competitors. This module provided specific imputes in the way strategy should be aligned with e needs and concerns of the stakeholders. For instance, stakeholders may be concerned in terms of how a certain firm distributes the value it creates (SAGE Publications, 2011, p.19). Competitive positioning In terms of competitive positioning, I was able to learn a lot of things and how these align with the marketing industry. After going through this module, I feel that competitive positioning is into one off event but a continual proves a continual process that any business should be able to manage. I feel that the insights that I got from the business will be necessary for me to be able to go through the business and be able to help in improving my careers. I am positive that any business where I will work will benefit from the skills I have leant from this unit within this module and that I can brings a lot in the table with regard to competitive positioning. Options for strategic management There are a number of things that a firm is able to do to achieve strategic development and strategic positioning (Hooley & Saunders, 1993). In this unit, I was able to get the various ways in which a business can use to achieve strategic management and strategic positioning. These lessons were necessary and although it was harder for me to grasp the essence of the lessons, I was able to eventually to be able to handle the materials and was able to gain a lot in understanding why this is important. I managed to overcome the issues I was having in understanding the various principles by getting to look at a business as an individual and how an individual is exposed to various things that he or she can use to improve his conditions and create an area where he is comfortable working in. by the end of the module, I was able to overcome the anxiety I was having at the start and I was able to look at things from a hugely different perspective. I was also able to see how symbols are used to create a brand that can be recognized by the consumer (Sengupta, 2005, p129). Value chain Understanding the value chain concept was not so difficult especially because I was already familiar with the concept. However, although I was already familiar with this concept already, I was able to see how it relates with the broader concept of management and especially strategic management. I was fascinated by the new ideas that I learnt about how the value chain can be managed eve in terms of outsourcing. In particular, I was able to learn how to apply the concepts if value chain to increase efficiency and reduce wasteful processes (Sabri, et al 2009, p.139).I was intensely interested in this topic and was able to go ahead and I was able to do my own extended research in the area and come up with a number of things. I was specifically interests in understanding the various available opportunities that exist which can be used to manage the value chains such as outsourcing. These skills that I learn in this unit were so powerful that I thing I will be able to apply them in my employment because managing value chain starts within the core processes in a firm. I think this will be crucial in developing a competitive value chain for my business once I am ready to set it up. This will be celebrated in that is will help me to develop ways in which the firm can develop a better value chain that is beneficial to the customers, the suppliers and any other stakeholders who may be directly concerned. I was also able to learn how, according to Kannegiesser (2008. p24) demand elasticity affects value chain by affecting prices. Part II SWOT analysis Strengths My greatest strengths include good leadership skills which will be an extremely useful in a business environment and especially bin marketing. I play rugby and this has given me the leadership skills I will need in the business environment. I am a curious person and this leads to having interests in many things and this provides me with the ability to synthesize new information seriously easily. I believe this is important in a business environment especially because the business environment is majorly fast-changing and requires a person to be able to understand new information remarkably fast. Weaknesses One of the greatest is my poor time management and too much procrastination. This makes me to always be having tight deadlines to meet and affects the quality of the works I do. I will need to loot at this and see the ways I can overcome this especially in preparation for the real world. I will especially need to works on the procrastinations so as to have a better way of managing my tasks ad my time. Opportunities In terms of my school work, my greatest opportunity is the fact that I have many materials and tools provided by the university to help me improve my work. Working with other people who are already experienced will be a way for me to get new knowledge and real life businesses. In terms of my coursework, my ability to start engaging debases (usually informal debates about issues we cover in coursework) with my colleagues helps me to be able to synthesize and assimilate new information. I usually do this with the modules that seem to give me a hard time. Threats Lack of willpower can sometimes creep onto me and this can be dangerous where an enthusiasm is needed. Especially in marketing, being able to works and pursue a certain cause relentlessly is particularly crucial. Lack of high level of commitment and determination is one of the greatest threats I have. I however, expect to use my time management lessons to mitigate this threat. Reference List: Baker, B. (2007). Destination Branding for Small Cities: The Essentials for Successful Place Branding. Destination Branding Book. Balls, B. (2012). change management: organizational and personal change management, process, plans, change management and business development tips. Retrieved March 8th, 2013, from Business Balls: http://www.businessballs.com/changemanagement.htm Blyth, J. &. (2005). Business to Business Marketing Management: A Global Perspective. London: Cengage Learning EMEA. Hooley, G. &. (1993). Competitive Positioning: The Key to Marketing Strategy. New York, NY: Prentice Hall. Jones, e. a. (2004, April, 15th). 10 Principles of Change Management. Retrieved March 08, 2013, from Strategy Plus Business: http://www.strategy-business.com/article/rr00006?gko=643d0 Kannegiesser, M. (2008). Value Chain Management in the Chemical Industry: Global Value Chain Planning of Commodities. London: Springer. Moilanen, T. &. (2008). How to Brand Nations, Cities and Destinations: A Planning Book for Place Branding. Basinstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Peng, M. (2010). Global Business. London: Cengage Learning. Publications, S. (2011). SAGE Brief Guide to Marketing Ethics. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE. Sabri, E. (2009). Lean and Agile Value Chain Management: A Guide to the Next Level of Improvement. Plantation, FL: Ross Publishing. Schlegelmilch, B. ( 1998). Marketing Ethics: An International Perspective. London: Cengage Learning EMEA,. Sengupta, S. (2005). Brand Positioning: Strategies for Competitive Advantage. Noida, UP: Tata McGraw-Hill Education. Read More