MKT 545: Customers, Markets and Firm Strategy

Contents
This module provides new and articulate strategy concepts, analytical frameworks, and hands-on tools for students to execute industry analyses and develop competitive strategies. Building on consumer behavior, customer analytics, industry analyses and strategy foundations, it helps to analyze the competitive behavior of firms (including pricing, market positioning, product development, expansion, entry and deterrence) under various economic conditions of industry structure.

Learning outcomes
By the end of the module students are able to execute industry analyses and develop competitive strategies. In particular, students will have a deep understanding of identifying customers’ preferences, needs and willingness-to-pay. Taking this understanding of consumer into account, students are able to analyze the principles and foundations of business strategies from the interrelations­hip of product demand, market environments and firms’ characteristics. Moreover, students are capable of executing industry analyses, uncovering durable economic principles that are applicable to different strategic situations. That means, course participants gain a profound understanding of how firms compete and organize themselves and how firms have to make good strategic marketing decisions.

Necessary prerequisites
Not taken MKT 650

Recommended prerequisites
Basic marketing knowledge on Bachelor level / B.Sc. Business Administration

Examiner Performing lecturer

Prof. Dr. Florian Stahl Prof. Dr. Florian Stahl