Discussion: Research-based Marketing Plan Initial Proposal - Product Differentiation and Positioning

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Product Differentiation and Positioning

As noted in the Workshop overview, you have been hired as an external consultant by JGJ, Inc. This is the first section of your research-based market and marketing analysis.

This section of the paper will address product differentiation and positioning within the current market, so it will evaluate current competitors and look for an opening that is not being served. You will need to fully analyze the market for current competitors and how they are each positioned. You will need to identify how the new entrant could place itself into an area of need in the market, including the elements of differentiation that will make your offering successful against the competition.

Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:

· Articulate models for product differentiation and positioning within the market.

Resources

· File: Market Analysis Report Template  

· Textbook:  Malcolm McDonald on Marketing Planning: Understanding Marketing Plans and Strategy , Ch. 3, pp. 33-48; Ch. 5-6, pp. 63-116

· Textbook:  The 30 Day MBA in Marketing: Your Fast Track Guide to Business Success , Ch. 2, pp. 23-50

· Textbook:  Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind , Ch. 1, pp. 5-10; Ch. 16-19, pp. 179-198

You must request these pages from Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind directly from Off Campus Library Services (OCLS). OCLS will email the pages to you within one (1) business day, not including weekends and holidays. Please include all of the information needed for this request: author, publication year, title, and publication information. Email your request to  [email protected]  or fill out an  Online Request for Services  form. 

You may also call OCLS at 1-800-521-1848. OCLS hours are Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). OCLS closes on Sunday, all university holidays, and holiday weekends.

Instructions

1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.

2. You will submit a market analysis to JGJ, Inc. of 1000 words (+/- 50 words) using at least 4 credible and objective sources not provided as resources in the course in your analysis, plus at least one source provided in the course reading list.

3. You should have no more than 100 words describing the concept of differentiation and positioning. The paper should focus on the application of the concepts through an applied analysis of the target category.

4. Use these seven titles from the  Market Analysis Report Template  to create seven sections for this part of the consultant’s report:

a. Current annual sales volume in dollars and/or units sold in the market

b. Current competitors and their offerings, including points of differentiation for each offering indicating how they are positioned to each other in the market

c. Current price points of competitors

d. Projected overall market growth rate for the next five years

e. Projected changes to overall pricing in the market for the next five years

f. Recommended position and points of differentiation for the JGJ, Inc. offering

g. Complete buyer profile of the target customer

5. You must have at least one graphic of a positioning matrix indicating current offerings and the segment of the market that JGJ, Inc. will target. The graphic(s) may be attached as a file but the narrative write up must be posted in the main text box areas of the discussion.

6. This first submission will also have a 100- to 150-word introduction to the market or product category to serve as an introduction for your peer and for the contract company. This is in addition to the 1000 words; it will not appear in future sections of the consultant’s report.

7. Cite your work using current APA standards, however indenting of the references is not required due to the discussion board format. (See    OCLS APA Writing Styles Guides )

8. Post your initial proposal into the discussion forum as a post, not as an attached file.

9. In addition, submit your initial proposal document to your instructor by the end of the workshop.

10. Please note the relatively low point value of the initial report is not reflective of the time required or importance of this assignment. The assignment should be viewed as the total of the initial report posted and revised final report submitted and the combined total points for both steps. Further, your goal here is to provide your peer a complete initial proposal so that you can receive valuable feedback to improve your revised final report.

Access the associated rubric

Access the Discussion postings page

Access the Assignment submission page