Assignment 2: Discussion—The Dark Side?

Marketing professionals promote products and services in order to educate and persuade consumers to purchase them. Many consumers believe that marketing satisfies their needs by developing and promoting products and services that they need. However, some consumers believe that marketing professionals create needs by promoting products that they do not actually need.

Using the readings for this module, the Argosy University online library resources, and the Internet, respond to the following:

• Examine whether marketing creates or satisfies consumer needs.
• Describe the “dark side” of marketing.
• Cite examples of companies that have compromised their ethics or values for increased sales and profits.

Write your initial response in 1–2 paragraphs. Apply APA standards to citation of sources.

By Saturday, June 14, 2014, post your response to the appropriate Discussion Area. Through Wednesday, June 18, 2014, review and comment on at least two peers’ responses. Do the following when responding to your peers:

• Read all your peers’ postings.
• Respond in a substantive way by addressing issues brought up in your peers’ posts. Please note that simply registering your agreement with a peer’s post is not considered a substantive response.