Chapter 3: Collecting and Analyzing Marketing Information
Questions for Discussion
1. Of the three major environments in a situation analysis (internal, customer, external), which
do you think is the most important in a general sense? Why? What are some situations that
would make one environment more important than the others?
Student responses will vary and there are really no right or wrong answers to this question.
Obviously, all three environments are important. Many students will argue that the external
environment is the most important because it contains the most factors that can have an
effect on a firm’s marketing activities. In mature markets, the customer environment is likely
to be more important. In emerging markets, the external environment will likely be in the
spotlight.
2. Understanding the motivations of a firm’s noncustomers is often just as important as
understanding its customers. Look again at the reasons why an individual would not
purchase a firm’s products. How can a firm reach out to noncustomers and successfully
convert them into customers?
In their excellent book, Blue Ocean Strategy, Professors Kim and Mauborgne discuss this
issue. They stress eliminating noncustomers’ pain points (issues that prevent them from
buying), creating value innovation (low cost and differentiation), and identifying a price that
compels the mass of customers to consider the product. We address some of these issues in
the next chapter; hence, this is an excellent question in preparation for that discussion.
3. Do you think the Internet has made it easier or more difficult to collect marketing data and
information? Why? How might the major data collection issues of today compare to the
issues that occurred in the pre-Internet era?
The Internet has made data collection easier and more demanding. The issue today is
information overload and the ability of the manager to sort through data and information to
determine its relevance. This is an excellent opportunity to stress to students that Google
should not be their major source of information