Management 3210Y
Consumer Behaviour
Spring 2006
Thursdays 6:00 p.m. – 8:50 p.m.
Room: L307
Instructor: Chris Holdsworth (B.SC., MA, D.Phil)
E-Mail: christopher.holdswor@uleth.ca or chrishol@telusplanet.net
Office Hours: before or after class or by appointment
Class Web Page: http://classes.uleth.ca/200601/mgt3210y/
TEXT:
Michael R. Solomon, Judith L. Zaichkowsky, Rosemary Polegato, 2004. Consumer
Behaviour: Buying, Having, and Being, (3rd Canadian Edition) Toronto: Prentice
Hall.
Additional study materials, relevant web links, and practise tests are available on the
publisher's companion Web site at: www.pearsoned.ca/solomon
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course examines the psychological, social, and cultural processes that shape our
purchasing decisions and how marketers identify and apply these sources of influence
in formulating their marketing strategies.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of this course are to:
1. To understand the psychological, social, and cultural processes influencing
consumer behaviour
2. To understand the implications consumer behaviour has for formulating marketing
strategies.
3. To gain experience applying consumer behaviour concepts and theories to
practical marketing issues.
4. To increase your awareness of both the internal and external forces at work in
your own consumption behaviour.
COURSE FORMAT:
The course will follow an interactive lecture-discussion format and small group
activities. Classes will not necessarily repeat or cover all the material in the text but
will elaborate on selected topics and use additional case studies to provide a deeper
understanding of the material. Assigned textbook readings may be augmented with
suggested additional readings and handouts. Although not a grade component,
students are expected to contribute to class discussions so attendance and participation
is therefore essential. Students are also required to work on a group project and make
a presentation to the class.
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ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION
Although attendance and participation are not considered in the grade for this course
students are expected to attend all classes and to contribute to class discussions based
on the assigned readings. Students will be unable to make valuable contributions to
the discussion, or benefit from the contributions of others, if the readings have not
been done beforehand. As students are required to demonstrate a working knowledge
of all course materials in exams, grades will suffer if more than two classes are
missed.
ASSESSMENT
Assessment for this course will be based on the following components:
1. Mid-term Exam
The mid-term exam will cover the assigned readings and all material discussed in
class plus or presented in videos.
Date: February 16
Weight: 20% of final grade.
2. Personal Consumer Behaviour Journal
We are all consumers and there is no better way to begin to understand why others
purchase things than to become aware of the influences on one's own behaviour.
During the first few weeks of the course students will be required to keep a journal of
their own purchasing decisions. A short, 4-5 page summary of the decisions made and
insights gained from them must be handed in. Late papers will lose 10% per day that
they are late. Additional information will be provided the first day of class.
Date due: March 2
Weight: 10% of final grade.
3. Print Ad Assignment
Students are required to find a print ad that illustrates the effective use of some
theory(s) or concept(s) discussed in class and submit a one to two page written
discussion of the underlying principles that make it an effective ad. A copy or
photocopy of the print ad must also be submitted. Further details will be provided on
the first day of class.
Date due: March 23
Weight: 10% of final grade.
4. Group Project
Students will work in teams of 3-5 people on a project designed to integrate and apply
the course material to the development of a real-world marketing strategy. Teams
must be formed by the 3rd week of class. The project requires you to select and
research a product or service category, select a brand within that category, then
reposition it according to the needs of a new market segment, and develop a
marketing plan for the repositioned brand. Part of the research for this project will
involve primary research collected through a questionnaire administered to a small
sample of the target market. The project includes a class presentation at the end of the
term, and a written report, which must be limited to 25 pages in length (excluding
appendices).
Since leaving the project to the end of the semester is counterproductive it needs to be
completed in three phases. The first two phases will not be graded, as the aim is to
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provide feedback and to help you make steady progress. For each phase not handed in
on time, however, the group will lose 10% of the overall project grade. Phase one
requires a one to two page description of the product category the group has chosen to
focus on, a breakdown of the responsibilities among group members, and a project
plan. Phase one is due February 9
Phase two, due Nov, 7th, involves a profile of your repositioned product category's
market, a description and justification of your new target segment, and a draft of your
questionnaire. You will also be required to give a short (5-7 minute) oral presentation
to the class describing your product or service and its new target segment. The aim of
this presentation is to receive feedback from other students in the class. Part of the
class on this date may be used to pre-test and receive feedback on the questionnaire.
Phase three consists of a class presentation and a final report. Group presentations
will be on April 6th , Order of presentation will be determined by lot. They should
last approximately 20 minutes and will be worth 10% of the final grade. The final
report, also due April 6th, must be a professional and polished document, no more
than 25 double-spaced pages, excluding any appendices, references or exhibits. The
final report is worth 25% of the final grade. More details on this project will be
handed out at the first class.
Weight: 35% of final grade (10% presentation, 25% report)
5. Final Exam
The final exam will be a registrar-scheduled exam and will cover the assigned
readings and all material discussed in class plus any material presented in videos and
group/individual presentations since the mid-term - i.e. it is not cumulative.
Date: April 20
Weight: 25% of final grade
Component
1. Team Selection
2. Group Project Phase One
3. Mid-term exam
4. Personal Consumer Behaviour Journal
5. Group Project Phase Two
6. Print Ad Assignment
7. Group Presentations
8. Group project
9. Final Exam
Weighting
20%
10%
10%
10%
25%
25%
Due date
Jan 26
Feb 9
Feb 16
Mar 2
Mar 9
Mar 23
Apr 6
Apr 6
Apr 20
DEFERRALS AND MISSED EXAMINATIONS
Exams must be taken at the scheduled times and assignments handed in on the dates
specified. Course material submitted late will lose 10% of the mark per day that they
are late. Students may be granted an extension on submissions or deferral from
writing the mid-term exam only due to illness or other extenuating circumstances
beyond their control and with the presentation of a valid written explanation from the
appropriate authority, e.g. a physician or employer. Alternative arrangements may be
made at the discretion of the instructor. Students who miss the final exam must apply
to the Dean for deferral.
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GRADING SCHEME:
Each item of course work will be weighted as above and a final mark out of 100
calculated. This will then be converted to a letter grade in compliance with the
University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Management's formula as indicated below. All
team members will receive the same mark for the group project. Students will,
however, have the opportunity to provide a confidential evaluation of their peers. If
such evaluations indicate that one or more members of the group have failed to
contribute their fair share of the work their mark for the project may be negatively
adjusted. It is important, however, that any problems with group members be brought
to the attention of the instructor as soon as possible.
Grading Scale:
A+ = 95-100%
B+ = 82-85.9
C+ = 70-73.9
D+ = 58-61.9
A = 90-94.9%
B = 78-81.9
C = 66-69.9
D = 50-57.9
A- = 86-89.9%
B- = 74-77.9
C- = 62-65.9
F = 0-49
CLASS SCHEDULE
Topic
Readings & Assignment Dates
Introduction
Chapter 1
Perception, Learning & Memory
Chapters 2 and 3
Motivation, Values, the Self
Chapters 4 and 5
Team Selection Due
Personality and Lifestyles
Chapter 6
Feb 2
Attitudes and Attitude change
Chapters 7, 8
Feb 9
Group Project Phase One Due
Feb 16 Midterm Exam
Feb 23 No Class – Reading Week
Individual decision making, Buying and Chapters 9 and 10
Mar 2
Disposing
Journal Assignment due
Group Influences, Opinion leadership,
Chapter 11
Mar 9
Word of Mouth. Phase two
Group Project Phase Two Due
presentations & Questionnaire pre-test
Chapters 12 and 15
Mar 16 Family decision-making and age
subcultures
Chapters 13 and 14
Mar 23 Income & social class Ethnic, regional
subcultures
Ad Analysis Assignment Due
Mar 30 Cultural Influences on Consumer Chapters 16 and 17
Behaviour, Revision
All groups must be prepared to
Apr 6 Group presentations
present this date Order will be
determined by lot. Completed
Group Project Due
Apr 20 Final Exam
6:00 pm L307
Date
Jan 12
Jan 19
Jan 26
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