Aims

Marketing is a key factor in business success. On a daily basis we are exposed to a plethora of marketing messages and actively engage in the marketplace and/or marketspace. Often our purchasing decisions are heavily influenced by organisational marketing efforts. We 'display' our favourite brands through the clothes we wear, the cars we drive and the football teams we support. Marketing is everywhere! It is an inescapable feature of our contemporary world. The focus of the module is on the theory of consumer behaviour that underpin marketing. The module will provide students with insights into the issues that marketing managers face in complex and dynamic marketplaces (and marketspaces) and the concepts and theories that can be used to understand consumer behaviours.

This module This module has been mapped against:
• Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Level 4 Marketing Module learning outcomes numbers 1-6 (out of 6),
• CIM Level 4 Customer Experience module learning outcomes relating to numbers 2, 4, 5 (out of 6)

Outline Of Syllabus

Indicative content:

Introduction to Consumer Behaviour
- Needs, habits, motivation and values
- Learning, attitudes and preferences
- Exposure, attention and perception
- Emotions
- Information processing and heuristics
- Involvement
- Identity, groups, subculture and culture
- Consumer decision-making processes and theories.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Online lectures convey the key principles of consumer behaviour and give the opportunity for further discussion to take place. They provide the best format for introducing new theory, presenting illustrative case studies and stimulating, where appropriate, in-class discussion.
Students will be directed to a range of on-line materials are available for students to practice and consolidate their learning

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Use of unseen assessment encourages students to demonstrate their understanding of the subject area without recourse to notes or books. By making all questions compulsory students are forced to confront all aspects of the course material. Multiple choice exams are appropriate for testing a wide understanding of introductory level theory.