Marketing (Byte Size Skills Course) Course

The concept and practice of marketing is concerned with putting the customer first. The working definition of marketing used in this course expresses this idea neatly:

"The achievement of corporate goals through meeting and exceeding customer needs better than the competition."

We can think of marketing as a philosophy that underpins and drives the activities of an organisation. We can also regard it as a business function and process concerned with the set of activities necessary to obtain and service demand for an organisation's products.  All elements of marketing serve to determine the approach of organisations and ultimately their business performance.

In this course, we provide an overview of marketing by looking at the complexity of delivering an ever-changing set of products and services within a business context that is broad, subject to economic fluctuations and volatile consumer taste and demand. More specifically, we look at the philosophy of marketing and introduce marketing planning and the business context in which organisations operate - the marketing environment.

After participating in this course, you should be able to:

• define the marketing concept
• define marketing as a business orientation and as a business activity
• distinguish between different business orientations
• recognise the management issues involved in creating a market-driven organisation
• define what is meant by the marketing mix, and identify its key elements and the characteristics of an effective mix
• identify and describe the key stages in the marketing planning process
• identify key changes in the marketing environment, and how these may impact on marketing decisions.

Study Options

In order to offer our students the most convenient and flexible distance learning courses, Stonebridge Associated College offers you the option to study for your course via two methods:

• 1. Via the traditional paper-based method.
• 2. Through the online method.

Study Hours

This is only an approximate figure and is dependant upon how much time you can dedicate to your studies and how well you grasp the learning concepts in the course material. Furthermore, at the end of each lesson there is a question paper that needs to be completed and returned to your tutor. You should allow at least 1 - 2 hours of study to complete each question paper.

Tutor Support

With this course you will have unlimited access to your own personal tutor who specialises in their field of study. It is your personal tutor's role to ensure that you receive constructive feedback and to deal with any queries you may have. You are more than welcome to telephone, fax or email your personal tutor.

You will also have access to a dedicated and friendly team of administrators and course advisors who offer sound and professional guidance and advice when you need it. This ensures that you will never feel neglected and that you will always succeed!

Assessment Method

After each lesson there will be a question paper, which needs to be completed and submitted to your personal tutor for marking. This method of continual assessment ensures that your personal tutor can consistently monitor your progress and provide you with assistance throughout the duration of the course.

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.