Discussion Of The Role Of Strategic Marketing In An Organisation

Questions: 1. How an organization develops and manages a strategic marketing plan? 2. Explains how an organization applies the strategic marketing management techniques in a market situation? Answer: Introduction The report is all about how an organization develops and manages a strategic marketing plan. The second part explains how an organization applies the strategic marketing management techniques in a market situation.In the first part, the role of strategic marketing is being discussed, i.e. how strategic marketing helps in an organization. The variety of processes such as planning, implementation and control phase involved in strategic marketing are also explained here. The relation between strategic marketing and corporate marketing is also being discussed. Apart from that, various models of a strategic marketing planning as well as the relationship between strategic positioning and marketing tactics are included. The benefits of relationship marketing is also being discussed here. In the second part, the strategic techniques and options are discussed. And also how an external environment affects the organization are discussed. Discussion of the role of strategic marketing in an organisation. Strategic marketing is the identification of strengths of an organization which helps the organization in differentiating itself from the competitor. Strategic marketing plays a vital role in an organization as it helps the organization in achieving its goals by utilizing its scarce resources in an effective way. Allocation and utilization of scarce resources in an effective way that helps an organization in increasing its sales and competitiveness. It helps the organization in increasing its capability and effectiveness from the competitor. Strategic marketing confirms that the right materials are being chosen for the production of goods or services. It also confirms that the productions are going as per the customers needs(Simerly, 1987). The processes involved in strategic marketing. Strategic marketing processes helps an organization to reach its target market with the allocation of its marketing mix resources. The process consists of three phase which are explained below: Planning phase - This phase consists of three steps, i.e. 1. Situation analysis: SWOT analysis helps an organization in increasing its strengths, rectifying its weakness, grabbing opportunities and avoiding situation that can hamper the organizations environment (Ahmad, 2013). 2. Market product focus and goal setting: First of all, marketing and product goals are defined then it selects the target market with the help of market segmentation. The next task is to find out the point of difference. Lastly, the product is positioned in the market (Gilligan and Wilson, 2009). 3. Marketing programme: In this stage, the marketing mix, i.e. product, price, place and promotion are developed and then the budget is being prepared with the help of estimation of revenues, expenses, and profits. Implementation phase - This phase consist of four steps, i.e. finding resources, designing marketing organization, developing schedules and executing marketing program. Concept phase - In this phase, the outcomes are compared with the plans in order to find out the changes that has been occurred(Moutinho and Southern, 2010). Evaluation of the links between strategic marketing and corporate strategy. Sometimes, both the terms strategic marketing and corporate strategy are used interchangeably but the difference lies in the aim. The aim of corporate strategy is to earn profit for the organization, whereas, that of strategic marketing is to increase the sales of the products. Besides this difference, there are some link and interrelationship between the two which are been explained below- Value chain- It is the process of making, communicating and delivering a product as per the customers needs and wants. It links strategic marketing and corporate strategy (Clegg, 2011). The first link is market sensing, i.e. identifying the target market, the next link is new offering, i.e. making and delivering the product. After this comes the customer acquisition, i.e. promotional activities are carried out to attract customers. The last link is fulfilment management, i.e. related to supplying the product. Core competency- It is the quality that an organization adopts in order to differentiate it from the competitors. Core competencies are being developed as corporate strategy but advertise as strategic marketing by an organization. Assessing the value of models used in strategic marketing planning. Strategic marketing planning: - It is an operational and managerial process which helps an organization in making and applying effective marketing strategies (Dess, 2012). Models The models used in strategic marketing planning helps the organization in evaluating whether the business is doing better than its competitors or not and also helps in identifying the growth strategies for the future. There are four models used in this process which includes the following- 1. The Ansoff matrix - It is a matrix which identifies opportunities that will help in the growth of the organization (McDonald and Meldrum, n.d.). It involves four growth strategies i.e. market penetration, product development, market development and diversification. 2. BCG matrix - This model was introduced by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG). It is also known as growth share matrix. It consists of four parts, i.e. question mark, star, cash cow and dog. Discussion of the links between strategic positioning and marketing tactics. Strategic positioning Positioning is the principle which shows how an organization competes and serves its customers. Positioning helps an organization by creating awareness among the customers (Proctor, 2000). Marketing tactics It is a set of methods which helps in promoting the products of the business in order to increase its sales (Cohen, 1995). An effective marketing tactics helps in satisfying the customers needs and assists the business in utilizing its scarce resources in more efficient way to maximize the promotion of its products. Analysis of the merits of relationship marketing in a given strategic marketing strategy. Merits of relationship marketing It helps in creating new customers It lessens the marketing and client services costs It helps in the expansion of business as the loyal customers suggest others to buy the products. It increases market share, sales as well as competency. Usage of the appropriate marketing techniques to ascertain growth opportunities in a market. The company that is chosen for this report is AB Cakes limited, which is located in Wolverhampton, England. It is related to private limited company, involves in production of different bakery items such as breads, cakes, flour confectionery and sugar confectionary food products. Marketing techniques are the tools used by the marketing department of the company in order to attract more customers and make more profits towards business. As a marketing manager, the below are some of the techniques used by the AB Cakes Ltd. Setting marketing objective making Strategies: Setting objectives and making strategies are the key roles of the marketing management. Hence, AB Cakes Ltd had set objectives to obtain growth, increase sales and maintain market share. Same way, to accelerate the growth of the sales, it has adopted marketing strategies that is, cost leadership (Iuso, 1975). Based on this, the company is getting sugar at low cost from Africa and China. Target marketing: The company AB Cakes Ltd. has been focused on the people who are suffering from diabetes and ignoring the sugar products. So, it started introducing the products of sugar free to attract customers and increase the sales. Become valuable resources: AB cakes Ltd. made a strategy to promote their products in a valuable and unique way which is liked by everybody. The strategies are made by the management to get the AB products available at easier, less expensive, faster etc. Planning on using the marketing strategy options in a market In order to be an efficient and effective business, AB Cakes ltd. has used different marketing strategies in order to seek more customer attraction and increase the sales of the company. Competitive strategy: The strategy is made by the management to create defendable position in an industry, to cope with the competitive force and there by yield superior returns. Cost leadership strategy: AB Cakes ltd. is a low cost producer industry which makes quality products in a reasonable price. This strategy is only applicable when there is good distribution channel and raw materials like sugar is getting at a least cost (Kotler and Cox, 1988). For this, company started importing sugar from China and Africa. Creating appropriate strategic marketing objectives for a market. Marketing objective are the goals set by the company in order to promote the products or services to potential consumers during specific time period. AB Cakes Ltd. also had the marketing objectives to reach the companys goal such as To create awareness among target consumer: The AB Cakes Company created the awareness among the target customer that it is UKs one of the popular companies which concerns about the Diabetic patients and introduced healthy and tasty food products. Produce healthier environment: This is one of the objectives set by the organization to create healthier life style through their products. It has also been working with many environmental caring trusts to avoid pollution in the process of production (Cohen, 2006). Hence, it is associated with Carbon Trust for more improvement in the production process. Report on the impact of changes in the external environment on a marketing strategy. Every business external environment has strong impact on making decision for strategic planning as the business is operated in states. The external environment consists of many important factors (Kotler and Armstrong, 2012) such as. Environmental factors: As the company AB involves in supporting the positive changes in the environment and had made the policies and strategies, safer. It has the highest standards for environmental protection and sustainability. Competition: The huge completion in the market also impacts on the marketing strategies. Based on the range of the competition, the management has to make changes in marketing objectives and strategies (Burkholder, Edwards and Sartain, 2004). Customers attitude: It comes under social economic factors which plays key role in influencing the marketing strategy. The attitude of people, such as health consciousness, makes changes to the marketing strategies. Internal analysis to identify current strengths and weaknesses in a marketing strategy An internal analysis is done to find the strengths and weaknesses of an organization. These factors illustrate the advantage and disadvantages of the company. Strengths: AB Cakes Company is number one supplier of the UK retail sugar and sweetener market and the food service which produces low calorie sugar products. It is the one of the company which works with carbon trust and committed to reduce carbon emission (Thomas, 2007). It produces some unique products like sugar syrups, sugars for drinks and sprinkling, sauces etc. along with the bakery items. Weaknesses: The production of sugarcane and sugar beet is mainly based on the climate. Due to the impact of global warming, the production is gradually decreasing and cost of the sugar beets increasing (Thomas, 2007). To meet the customer requirements, the company uses the combination of destocking and supplies from third parties which is affecting the companys image badly. Strategic marketing responses to key emerging themes in a marketing strategy. Globalization: Globalization is one of the important themes which influenced the marketing strategy for which the organization is now able to export the products and services throughout the world. It makes changes in the strategies of marketing in order to promote the products worldwide. Technological: As the technology is growing rapidly, the growth of the AB Cakes company is also involved in growing the sales of the company by adapting new changes to the marketing strategies. The company involves in promoting products by using the TV, social networks etc. to grab the more opportunities of sales (Verbeke, 2009). Conclusion Today, the global market has seen immense competition in the market but the AB Cakes Ltd. has occupied the position in the market by applying right marketing strategies at right time. Hence, using the marketing strategies and techniques helped the company in reaching objectives of the company and satisfying customers with their unique services. References Ahmad, M. (2013). Marketing Case Studies and Swot Analysis. Saarbrucken: LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing. Burkholder, N., Edwards, P. and Sartain, L. (2004). On staffing. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley. Buttle, F. (1996). Relationship marketing. London: Chapman. Clegg, S. (2011). Strategy. London: SAGE. 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