Category: Marketing

1)  Explain, in terms of their cultural differences, the relative success and failure of the efforts of China and the United States to contain the spread of the Corona-virus.

2)  Today’s China needs both individualism and collectivism. Explain whether you agree or disagree with this statement by using what you have learn in this class.

3)  BTS, the seven-member boy band from South Korea, has the No. 1 album in the United States, having followed up Love Yourself: Tear from May, the first K-pop album to ever lead the Billboard 200, with Love Yourself: Answer, another chart-topper.

Explain its success from the perspective of Intercultural Communication.  Does their global popularity contribute to a better cross-cultural understanding of South Korea?

1- Social Media – A Faustian Bargain?

Social Media is instantaneous and reaches huge global audiences. Its benefits and damages are vastly amplified from media used a generation ago. Where does freedom of the individual end and where do the needs of society begin? Should media be controlled to avoid private or political abuse? What are the challenges of either system?
Social media brought us the Arab Spring and cyber bullying, online learning and QAnon. Who can control this Faustian bargain? Could we start over like Tim Berners Lee was hoping?

2- Social Media Beacons of freedom or monopolies in need of regulation? 

Questions raised in the last years: Should the government regulate social media? Are they a tool or a publisher?  Should social media platforms be required to release private data to the government?
In the Politics YT Playlist you find a wide spectrum of good politics, of propaganda, from FOX TV undermining science in the Climate change debate to the extremes of Hitlers demagoguery. Since the Trump presidency, the term of Fake News and Alternative Facts has made research of the sources we use and quote ever more important.

3- Intentional Misinformation For Personal/Corporate Gain?
Already in 2012, estimated spending on television ads promoting coal and more oil and gas drilling or criticizing clean energy exceeded $153 million, according to an analysis by The New York Times of 138 ads on energy issues broadcast this year by the presidential campaigns, political parties, energy companies, trade associations and third-party spenders.
That tally is nearly four times the $41 million spent by clean-energy advocates, the Obama campaign and Democratic groups to defend the presidents energy record or raise concerns about global warming and air pollution.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/14/us/politics/fossil-fuel-industry-opens-wallet-to-defeat-obama.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120914

Needs two respond to post #1 and #2 by extending, refuting/correcting, or adding additional nuance to their posts. All replies must be constructive and use literature where possible. The response integrates multiple perspectives and shows value as a seed for reflection by including other discussants views. Write a couple for each post and number them too.  Attached I have #1 and #2 to answer each response in a couple of sentences separated.

This is what the discussion is about:
On March 8, 2016, Under Armour ran a promotional add on the Olympic swimmer, Michael Phelps, revealing the intense and rigorous effort that goes into being the most decorated Olympian of all time. View the videos in the link above, which include the promotional advertisement, and a follow-up video showing Michael Phelps and his wife Nicole’s reaction.

Share your thoughts on Under Armour’s marketing direction. What do you think of the end caption, “Its what you do in the dark, that puts you in the light”?

The Under Armour Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDQDTPWNcQ0&feature=youtu.be

The video showing Michael Phelps and his wife Nicole’s reaction:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR-9k4VqzDg&feature=youtu.be

The CSR Report and program Critique (this is 20% of the Grade)

Each Report Critique will be done by you individually. Your company is Exxon. 

Involves reading and doing a critique of a company’s annual sustainability, CSR, or citizenship report.

Assess the companys Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), sustainability, or citizenship report. Explain the extent to which the company recognizes and takes responsibility for the various social and environmental and governance impacts of its business that you identify.
Be Thoughtful and Answer the following questions…

Read and assess the companys sustainability or CSR report, paying particular attention to the  social and environmental efforts that address the triple bottom line.

Explain how the company frames the issues Are they discussed in terms of ethical or social responsibilities?

Do they use frameworks (GRI, CDP,  UN Sustainable Development Goals or certification programs) to guide and independently validate their reports?

Explain the extent to which the report  illustrates that the company recognizes its social responsibilities among employees,  consumers, and other stakeholders.

Cite the specific metrics used in the report and their progress against them.

Critical assessment: Reflecting on the issues in the course, do you consider that their sustainability or CSR programs are effective?  Who is Responsible for their program. Is company is doing enough? Or are they primarily directed simply at issues to affect profits? Be critical and explain what may be  lacking.  How do they compare to their top 2 competitors?
What is the biggest challenge identified for the next 5 years? Do they work with external NGOs? Are they taking steps to follow the SDGs (the Strategic Development Goals) of the United Nations?

For this task, you will examine how the Mayo Clinics creation of a healthscape aligns to the organizations mission and goals and adds value to its target audience.

Please see attachment in regards to assignment requirements. The following link will be needed as well..
http://sharing.mayoclinic.org/2009/04/07/mayo-clinic-music-fun/

Option #2: Marketing via Social Media
Write an essay exploring social media in marketing. Choose a brand (or product) that heavily relies on social media or technology to market their product. (Examples are Netflix and Uber.) Provide the following:

An overview or history of the brand (product)
An explanation of how technology or social media is utilized for marketing purposes
Your research should demonstrate your understanding of target markets and specific demographics.

In your analysis and evaluation, be sure to discuss and reference concepts from the textbook and required readings. .

Your paper should be two to three pages in length. Include at least three scholarly references in addition to the course textbook and required readings.