Discussion Post: Advertising and Promotion- Consumer Sales Promotion
We know from our lecture that the function of consumer sales promotions is to increase the sales of the firm's products. This is accomplished by increasing the product's exposure to the public. The desirability of the product to consumers is also increased by sales promotions, with the goal being an increase in demand for the product.
Conduct research and find examples of each of the following consumer sales promotions and answer the following questions in 300-400-word response:
I. Coupons are a common tool of integrated marketing communication (IMC). How have coupons influenced your purchase of a product or service? What are the features of the coupon that were most influential in your purchase decision?
II. Many firms use contests or sweepstakes to promote their product. How does a contest or a sweepstake impact or influence your decision to purchase? Did you win any of the prizes as a result? Did this influence your view of the product? Why or why not?
III. Samples are often given out at supermarkets or can be sent through the mail. Has tasting a sample resulted in your buying the product? If so, did you become brand loyal to the product? If not, why not? What is your opinion on the sample's effectiveness as a promotional tool?
Homework: Corporate Governance- Strategic Management
Governance mechanisms are considered to be effective if they meet the needs of all stakeholders, including shareholders. Governance mechanisms are also an important way to ensure that strategic decisions are made effectively. As a potential employee, how would you go about investigating a firm's governance structure? Would that investigation weigh in your decision to become an employee?
First, address the following item:
Identify a firm that you would like to join or one that you just find interesting. Complete the following research on your target firm:
I. Find a copy of the company's most recent proxy statement and 10-K. Proxy statements are mailed to shareholders prior to each year's annual meeting and contain detailed information about the company's governance and present issues on which a shareholder vote might be held. Proxy statements are typically available from a firm's website (look for an "Investors" submenu). You can also access proxy statements and other government filings such as the 10-K from the SEC's EDGAR database.
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to access SEC's EDGAR database.
Alongside the proxy, you should also be able to access the firm's annual 10-K. Here you will find information on performance, governance, and the firm's outlook, among other things.
I. Identify one of the company's main competitors for comparison purposes. You can find this information using company analysis tools such as Data monitor.
Second, address any five of the following topics:
I. Compensation plans (for both the CEO and board members; be sure to look for any difference between fixed and incentive compensation)
II. Board composition (for example, board size, insiders and outsiders, interlocking directorates, functional experience, how many active CEOs, how many retired CEOs, what is the demographic makeup, age diversity, and so on)
III. Committees (how many, composition, compensation)
IV. Stock ownership by officers and directors-identify beneficial ownership from stock owned (you will need to look through the notes sections of the ownership tables to comprehend this)
V. Ownership concentration-evaluate the firm's outstanding stock owned by institutions, individuals, and insiders and identify the no. of large-block shareholders (owners of five percent or more of stock)
VI. Does the firm utilize a duality structure for the CEO?
VII. Is there a lead director who is not an officer of the company?
VIII. What are the activities by activist shareholders regarding corporate governance issues of concern?
IX. Are there any managerial defense tactics employed by the firm? For example, what does it take for a shareholder proposal to come to a vote and be adopted?
X. What is the firm's code of conduct? List them.
XI. Summarize what you consider to be the key aspects of the firm's governance mechanisms.
XII. Highlight key differences between your target firm and its competitor.
XIII. Attach a graph to your post that covers the last 10-year historical stock performance for both companies. If applicable, compare both using a representative index such as the Standard & Poor's (S&P), National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation (NASDAQ), or other applicable industry index.
Finally, based on your review of the firm's governance, discuss any change in your opinion of the firm's desirability as an employer.
Format your homework according to the give formatting requirements:
• The answer must be using Times New Roman font (size 12), double spaced, and typed, with one-inch margins on all sides.
• The response also includes a cover page containing the student's name, the title of the homework, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
• Also include a reference page. The references and Citations should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.