LOYOLA COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS), CHENNAI – 600 034
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M.Com. DEGREE EXAMINATION – COMMERCE
FIRST SEMESTER – April 2009
CO 1808 – STRATEGIC MARKETING MANAGEMENT
Date & Time: 25/04/2009 / 1:00 – 4:00 Dept. No. Max. : 100 Marks
SECTION – A
Answer all questions. Each answers carries maximum of 2 marks.
Each answer should be around 10 lines. (10 x 2 = 20 marks)
- Why do some new products fail?
- When is ‘Skim the cream’ pricing appropriate?
- Mention some idea generating techniques?
- Mention any two characteristics of the ‘Business Strength’ dimension of the GE Multifactor Portfolio Matrix
- Identify any two product strategies during the maturity stage of the product life cycle.
- Can monopolies be challenged?
- How does ‘experimentation’ become a strategic advantage to the firm?
- Identify a brand strategy which works well in any industry known to you.
- What are the ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ elements in marketing?
- Identify any two tactics to manage or survive a recession.
SECTION – B
Answer any 5 questions. Each answers carries maximum of 8 marks.
Answers should be in about 1 page. (5 x 8 = 40 marks)
- Comment on Davidson’s seven principles of brand development.
- Suggest three advertisements (appealing to man’s emotions) ideas to reduce violence in Indian society.
- Recommend a logistics plan to help a new retail chain specializing in Home Computers to start its presence in Chennai?
- Suggest appropriate strategies for market followers in the Higher Education industry.
- Comment on the cost-effectiveness of different promotion tools during the life cycle of a product.
- Compare ‘Cost based’ with ‘Market based’ Pricing-approach, for a food business product item.
- Recommend ideas and design a good message, to help a political party to win the ensuing elections.
- Why is it important to segment your audience before developing a promotion campaign?
SECTION – C
Answer any 2 questions. Each answers carries maximum of 20 marks.
Answers should be around 4 pages. (2 x 20 = 40 marks)
- Using the PEST framework below, prepare a critical external environment analysis report on
Chennai to help a Multinational Office Appliances brand, start operations in the city soon.
| Political/ Legal Framework: (legislative structures, monopoly restrictions, political and government stability, political orientations, taxation policies, employment legislation, foreign trade regulations, environmental protection legislation, pressure groups, trades union power | Socio-cultural factors: (demographics, lifestyles, social mobility, educational levels, attitudes, consumerism) |
| Economic Factors: (business cycles, money supply, inflation rates, investment levels, unemployment, energy costs, GNP trends, patterns of ownership) | Technological factors (levels and focuses of government and industrial R &D expenditure, speed of technology transfer, product life cycles, joint ventures) |
- Develop a ‘Value Chain’ analysis report for a Food Chain focusing on promoting cost effective,
tasty and safe foods in the South Indian Market.
Keep in mind the 5 primary activities (inbound & outbound logistics, marketing and sales, and
service) and 4 support activities (infrastructure, HR mgt., technology development and
procurement) suggested by Porter.
- An Indian Company has hired you to suggest ways to enhance its Brand Image in the wake
of the financial scandal it has faced, of late. You can use the following ideas before you suggest
Brand strategies to the company.
The Brand’s current market positioning; competitors positioning strategies and resource bases; ways
in which the market is likely to develop and the implications of product, brand and market life
cycles; customer perceptions of the portfolio of brands in the market; customers’ expectations and
the extent to which these are being met both by the brand and its competitors; etc., like distributors
expectations; financial, managerial and operational resources usage; bases of competition;
importance of branding to the organization; and managerial expectations of the brand.
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