Exam 4: The Marketing Environment

People who are concerned about potential hazards surrounding "natural" dietary supplements should take their concerns to the _____.

Which age group would probably use the BMW alternative over the Daimler Smartcars because of their preference for branding,fulfillment,strong opinions,and incomes?

In the future,electrical power may come from quantum nucleonics,a form of nuclear power that produces no residual radiation.The ability to use this form of power will require equipment adaptations,but it will solve the world's need for clean and efficient power.When quantum nucleonics is developed,it will be an example of how _____ factors can affect an organization.

A(n)_____ is the practice of choosing goods and services that meet one's diverse needs and interests rather than conforming to a single,traditional lifestyle.

Companies that engage in car-sharing rely more on new car technology than demographics in making their marketing decisions.

The competitive environment of a business encompasses the number of competitors the firm must face,the relative size of these competitors,regulatory agencies,and the degree of interdependence within the industry.

The external environment:

What is environmental scanning? Give an example of an opportunity and a threat that environmental scanning might identify for a suntan lotion company.

Lance is a 30-year-old,single professional who enjoys hiking,college sports,and poetry.He lives with his girlfriend but does not have plans to get married in the near future.He leads a life much different from his father,who married right after high school,had children,and worked for the same company his entire career.More and more in the U.S.consumers like Lance are enjoying _____,piecing together a variety of interests,products,and services instead of conforming to traditional stereotypes.

Social change is perhaps the most difficult external variable for marketing managers to forecast,influence,or integrate into marketing plans.

Basic research attempts to develop new or improved products.

When mechanical gas pumps first appeared in the United States in the 1930s,their spinning dials couldn't register sales beyond $99.99.Today,some stations still use the retro pumps,but the limited dials cannot register the sales of higher-priced gas,which often mount about $100 for SUVs.The pumps can be modernized for about $650,but the company that provides this service has a huge backlog.This is an example of how _____ factors affect small convenience stores and service stations.

Generation Y is the most ethnically diverse generation the nation has ever seen.

Name and describe at least five approaches companies are now using to keep innovation strong.

Carmakers are getting into the car-sharing business because fewer people can afford their cars.They don't have the purchasing power.

Car-sharing differs from traditional car rental,which cost more,in that the rental period can be by the hour and as needed.Which of the following market factors might convince more people to use this service on a long-term basis?

Compare and contrast Generation Y and Generation X.Which generation is of more interest to marketers? Why?

E-cigarettes Smoking inflames nonsmokers and claims the lives of more than 400,000 smokers each year,so the electronic cigarette is a welcomed alternative.Electronic cigarettes,called e-cigarettes,are battery-powered devices that emit a vapor from nicotine,flavorings,and other chemicals.It looks like a cigarette and allows smokers to inhale the nicotine vapor in places where smoking is not allowed.The product has been touted as a means to quit smoking as well.However,critics,especially the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),claim that "vaping" poses risks.In fact,the FDA claims its tests revealed a toxic chemical that is found in antifreeze as well as other carcinogens.The FDA blocked a shipment of the product from China and banned the sale of this product in the United States.In addition to the safety issue,the FDA is concerned that children might be attracted to this product because it comes in flavors other than traditional menthol,such as bubble gum,chocolate,and strawberry.The FDA wants this product to go through the same rigorous testing that drugs must go through before being marketed.However,the FDA's authority over this product is questioned.While Congress has recently given the FDA authority over tobacco products,this is not a tobacco product and the Electronic Cigarette Association is fighting the ban. -Refer to E-cigarettes.The Food and Drug Administration is part of which environmental factor affecting the marketing of this product?

Which of the following statements best describes the typical target market?

Almost any product in India,from tap water to milk,has traces of toxins due to the overuse and misuse of insecticides by Indian farmers,but the government expects multinational corporations (MNCs)operating in India to produce food that is toxin free.In this way,both _____ factors influence the operating environment for foreign firms.