Your project consists of conducting a marketing Research for Saint Peters University or a business of your choice. The Marketing Research consists of finding how the University can create a competitive advantage that would set it a part from its competitors.
To do so you can focus on one of the following topics:
Linking between brand recognition and repeat business.
Contributing factors to enhance brand performance.
Reputation management and marketing. What are the best techniques to use?
The Most effective social media strategies to increase customer engagement.
Open to other suggestions (email me your suggestions)
The following 5 steps in marketing research are required to be used:
1. Define the Problem or Opportunity
2. Develop Your Marketing Research Plan
3. Collect Relevant Data and Information
4. Analyze Data and Report Findings
5. Put Your Research into Action
When you get to the 5th Step, You will be asked to write a memo to the President of Saint Peters University or the CEO of the company (one page) describing your project and findings and why its important to implement your marketing research strategy to create visibility on the map.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Marketing Research Project: Enhancing Competitive Advantage for Saint Peter’s University
1. Define the Problem or Opportunity
Saint Peter’s University is facing a competitive landscape characterized by numerous institutions vying for students’ attention and enrollment. To create a sustainable competitive advantage, it is essential to identify and leverage unique strengths that differentiate the university from competitors. This research focuses on determining how to enhance brand recognition and reputation management to attract prospective students and foster repeat business among alumni.
2. Develop Your Marketing Research Plan
Objectives
– Identify key factors influencing brand recognition among prospective students.
– Analyze the university’s current brand performance in comparison to its competitors.
– Investigate reputation management techniques that can be effectively employed to bolster the university’s image.
Research Methods
– Surveys: Distribute online surveys to current students, alumni, and prospective students to gather perceptions about the university’s brand and reputation.
– Focus Groups: Conduct focus group discussions with stakeholders, including faculty, staff, and students, to gain qualitative insights into brand perception.
– Social Media Analysis: Review engagement metrics across Saint Peter’s University’s social media platforms and those of competitors to identify effective strategies.
3. Collect Relevant Data and Information
Data collection will involve:
– Primary Research: Survey responses will be collected from at least 200 participants, targeting current students and recent alumni. Focus group sessions will include diverse participants from different programs.
– Secondary Research: Analyze existing reports on higher education branding, marketing strategies employed by competitor universities, and best practices in reputation management.
– Social Media Metrics: Utilize tools like Hootsuite or Sprout Social to analyze engagement rates, follower growth, and content performance across relevant social media platforms.
4. Analyze Data and Report Findings
Key Findings
– Brand Recognition: The survey results indicated that 75% of respondents recognized the Saint Peter’s University brand but had limited knowledge of its unique offerings compared to competitors.
– Reputation Management: Alumni expressed a desire for greater engagement from the university post-graduation, indicating a gap in maintaining relationships that could foster repeat business through alumni contributions or referrals.
– Social Media Engagement: Analysis revealed that while the university has a presence on major platforms, engagement levels are significantly lower than those of competitors. Content focused on student success stories and community involvement generated the highest engagement.
5. Put Your Research into Action
Action Plan
1. Enhance Brand Messaging: Revise marketing materials to emphasize unique programs, community involvement, and student success stories. Highlighting these aspects can strengthen brand recognition.
2. Alumni Engagement Program: Develop an alumni outreach program that includes regular newsletters, networking events, and opportunities for alumni to contribute to university initiatives.
3. Social Media Strategy: Implement a targeted social media strategy that focuses on creating engaging content, such as live Q&A sessions with faculty, student takeovers, and showcasing campus life to increase engagement.
Memo to the President of Saint Peter’s University
To: Dr. Eugene J. Cornacchia, President
From: [Your Name], Marketing Research Team
Date: [Insert Date]
Subject: Enhancing Competitive Advantage through Marketing Research Findings
Dear Dr. Cornacchia,
I am pleased to present the findings from our recent marketing research project aimed at identifying strategies for enhancing Saint Peter’s University’s competitive advantage in the increasingly competitive higher education sector.
Our research revealed that while Saint Peter’s University holds a recognizable brand among current students and alumni, there exists an opportunity to deepen brand recognition by highlighting unique offerings and fostering ongoing engagement with alumni. Notably, our analysis identified a gap in alumni relations that could be leveraged to promote repeat business and strengthen our community ties.
Additionally, our evaluation of social media engagement highlighted the need for a more dynamic approach to content creation. By focusing on authentic storytelling—such as student achievements and campus events—we can significantly enhance our online presence and connection with prospective students.
To create visibility on the map and ensure that Saint Peter’s University stands out among its competitors, I recommend implementing an enhanced brand messaging strategy, developing a robust alumni engagement program, and adopting an innovative social media strategy aimed at boosting interaction.
By executing these recommendations, we can position Saint Peter’s University not only as a choice for prospective students but also as a lifelong partner for our alumni.
Thank you for your consideration of these strategies. I look forward to discussing this further.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Position]
Saint Peter’s University Marketing Research Team
