Marketing 365 –Fall  2006


Consumer/Buyer Analysis and Behavior

Facts and Figures
Instructor: Barry J. Babin, Ph.D. (Louisiana State University)
Office: 306-JGH
Office Hours: 1:15 PM – 3:15 PM, 4:45 – 5:30 PM M W (by appointment and drop ins are welcome)
Phone: (601) 266-4627

Email: barry.babin@usm.edu   Web: ocean.otr.usm.edu/~W305022/
Tentative Classroom: 104 JGH
Required Text: Consumer Behavior, by Hawkins, Mothersbaugh and Best

Text web site: www.mhhe.com/hawkins10e
Recommended Reading: Wall Street Journal/Fortune for current affairs and participation

USM College of Business (CoB)

 

CoB Mission:             Developing Careers

CoB Vision:               To become the leading agent for career development in Mississippi and along the Gulf Coast.

CoB Values:               PRIDE (Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Discipline, Excellence)

Click here for a course schedule (section 3/4:45 PM).

Course Goals
The highest and most important goal of any college course should be to stimulate thinking. Each student brings to class a wide-ranging and quite unique perspective of consumer behavior based on their past experiences. However, few of you have probably ever spent a great deal of time contemplating decisions related to or the manner in which you go about consuming. In this course you will be exposed to various perspectives or theories of consumer behavior. You, as students, are challenged to confront these perspectives based on your own perceptions and experiences. In doing so, you should gain a greater appreciation for the sociological, psychological and motivational underpinnings that help determine our actions; and these actions, in return, provide value.

Learning Objectives

If successful, each student should understand how "consumer behavior" affects organizations, society and individuals (including you). A successful student in this class, upon completion, should be able to:

(1)   Understand the obvious, that the most successful competitive business is the one best and most quickly understanding her/his customer. Students should increase their ability to integrate facts about consumers into business decision making.

a.       This should be accompanied by an understanding of the ethical dimensions of consumer behavior and treatment.

b.      Ability to use the concept of ‘positioning’ including perceptual mapping

(2)   Thoroughly understand and apply the concept of Value – and its two major types:

a.       Utilitarian Value

b.      Hedonic Value

1.      In doing so, the student should see how business activities contribute to lifetime customer value

(3)   In addition to business applications, identify clear applications of what you learn here in your everyday lives as consumers of goods, services, thoughts, ideas, time, etc.

a.       Understand types of consumer decisions

1.      Implications for budgeting

b.      Understand how consumers make decisions

c.       Understand the psychology of a consumer

(4)   Each student should become a strong advocate for the consumer and realize the importance of a consumer orientation in a competitive business environment.

(5)   Understand how culture moderates the relationships between marketing efforts and consumer behavior.

(6)   Be able to explain the consumer behavior framework.

Finally, a high degree of student interaction is encouraged as we go in search of the eternal and elusive question, "Did people ever really like green shag carpet?"
 

Tentative Student Evaluation

Class Participation

20%

Tests (5)

50%

Cases & Other

10%

Final Exam

20%

Total

100%

Participation includes factors not limited to attendance, enthusiasm, professionalism, homework participation, credit for leading class discussions, current event presentations, cooperativeness, etc.

Fine Print:

·         Factors contributing to success: (1) attendance, (2) participation, (3) class preparation (responsibility), (4) study habits, (5) self-motivated reflection (thinking about the stuff), (6) genuine enthusiasm, (7) fake enthusiasm.

·         Academic honesty is taken very seriously. Plagiarism in any form, such as copying from another student on any assignment, copying from a published source without appropriate citation, cheating on an exam, etc. is grounds for failing the course, dismissal from the program and potential dismissal from the University with cause. 

·         "Handy" rule: Mobile phones (and sundry electronic communication devices) must be turned off during class and should not be in sight of the student.  Keep them in your bag or car. A mobile phone disruption is considered a serious breach of respect to the other students in the class and will be so reflected in one's participation.   Text messaging, emailing or exchanging video or picture images during class is considered a serious breach of integrity and professionalism.

·         Hurricane rule: Should a hurricane (national emergency, snow storm or similar act of God) force the closure of the University on a day when an event including a test/exam/presentation is scheduled, the event will be held on the first class day following the resumption of classes.
 

Finer Print:

The Wall Street Journal Statement:

The Wall Street Journal -- The College of Business (CoB) has entered into a partnership agreement with The Wall Street Journal that allows all upper level CoB students to have electronic access to the Journal at deeply discounted rates.  The WSJ is a critical learning tool that ensures CoB students are current and aware of the many factors and situations that impact decision-making in the global economy.  In addition to electronic access, the Journal provides a limited number of complimentary copies of the Journal, which are distributed on the Hattiesburg and Gulf Park campuses.

As part of this partnership, all juniors, seniors, and graduate students listed as College of Business majors will be charged $19 per fall and spring semester for access to the online edition of The Wall Street Journal, WSJ.com.  Summer access to WSJ.com is also included in the fee.  This fee is charged to a student's USM Business Office account and is non-refundable.

For upper level business students, access to WSJ.com will be attainable through a link on SOAR.  The path is: Home<SA Self Service<Learner Services<Home<Learner Services.  Click on The Wall Street Journal Online link and you will be immediately transferred to the WSJ.com home page.  You will have full access to WSJ.com and will be able to personalize your home page to meet your specific needs. In the event that you have questions, you may contact Marie Johnson by email at:  marie.johnson@dowjones.com. You may also contact Melia Hartsfield in the Dean's office at 601-266-5853, by email: melia.hartsfield@usm.edu or come by JGH 211.

The Academic Integrity Statement :

As a course offered in the College of Business, all students enrolled in this course and the instructor will adhere to the CoB's Academic Integrity Policy.  Students can access the policy directly at http://www.usm.edu/business/students/acad_policy.html or by going to http://www.usm.edu/colleges/cbed and clicking on Academic Integrity Policy in the upper right hand corner.  Registration in this course automatically makes the College of Business Academic Integrity Policy applicable to the student. 

The ADA Statement:

If a student has a disability that qualifies under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and requires accommodations, he/she should contact the Office for Disability Accommodations (ODA) for information on appropriate policies and procedures. Disabilities covered by ADA may include learning, psychiatric, physical disabilities, or chronic health disorders.  Students can contact ODA if they are not certain whether a medical condition/disability qualifies.  Address:  The University of Southern Mississippi, Office for Disability Accommodations, 118 College Dr. #8586, Hattiesburg, MS 3940-0001; Voice Telephone: (601)266-5024 or (228)214-3232; Fax: (601)266-6035; Individuals with hearing impairments can contact ODA using the Mississippi Relay Service at 1-800-582-2233 (TTY); or email Suzy Hebert at Suzanne.Hebert@usm.edu. 

Course Enrollment Statement

It is the responsibility of each student to determine that he or she is appropriately enrolled in each course.  Students are expected to confirm their registration in the selected courses prior to the last day to register for full-semester classes, the fifth class day of the semester. 

The College of Business strictly enforces add/drop policies.  Thus, students should not request to add classes after the fifth class day, except in extenuating circumstances (e.g., removal from class roll because of tuition/fees nonpayment), and under no circumstances after the last day to drop full-semester classes without academic penalty. 

Students can drop a course on SOAR up to the last day to drop full-semester classes without academic penalty.  After that date, students should not ask to drop a course except in extenuating circumstances (e.g., medical incapacity), and under no circumstances after the University withdrawal deadline. 

For the Fall Semester 2006, the last day to register for full-semester classes is Friday, September 1, 2006, the last day to drop full-semester classes without academic penalty is Wednesday, October 4, 2006, and the University withdrawal deadline is tentatively set for Monday, December 4, 2006.

 

Grading Policy and Grade Review Policy Statement (USM Undergraduate Bulletin, 2006-2007)

The instructor has the authority in his or her class over all matters affecting the conduct of the class, including the assignment of grades.  Student performance should be evaluated according to academic criteria made available to all students within the first two weeks of each semester.  Grades should not be determined in an arbitrary or capricious manner.

When a student disagrees with the final grade given by an instructor, fair play requires the opportunity for an orderly appellate procedure.  A student must initiate the appeal procedure within 30 school days (excluding Saturday, Sunday, and official student holidays) of the beginning of the semester subsequent to the one in which the grade was awarded, or 120 calendar days after the issuance of spring semester grades, should the student not be enrolled during the summer term.  The procedure assures due process for both the instructor and student.  For policies and procedures governing grade review, contact the dean of the appropriate college or the Office of the Provost.

 

Student E-Mail Accounts

Please be sure to set up your USM e-mail account.  Even if you are using another e-mail account as your primary account, you should still activate your USM account and route it to your other primary account.  The HELP desk (266-HELP; 266-4357) can assist you in doing this or you should be able to activate it through SOAR.  The University is moving more toward e-mail notification for all types of issues and this will help to keep you informed about various deadlines and other things that may affect your academic career.

 

May 2007 Graduation Information

Students planning a May 2007 graduation date need to meet with an adviser in JGH 110 prior to the Friday, November 3, 2006 deadline for filing their application for degree. Instructions for filing the degree application can be found at www.usm.edu/registrar/degree%20application/index.html. 

                                        

Finally

And this means you!