PE6007 - Marketing Strategy and Communications

What will I learn on this module?

This module will develop your critical skills around the practice of marketing. You will examine how organisations can analyse and segment markets to improve performance and profitability by building long-term relationships with their customers. You will also consider the principles of how marketing campaigns are devised using both traditional and digital channels, and introduce you to the more strategic decisions marketers are responsible for. In doing so you will be exposed to a range of academic frameworks and encouraged to question their suitability in real marketing scenarios.

Across the module you will cover the following themes:

• Marketing Principles: The extended Marketing Mix, the marketing environment, market segmentation and marketing research.
• Marketing Strategy: Addressing major decisions surrounding branding, pricing policies and new product development / product portfolio management.
• Campaign Management: Appreciating the plethora of activities involved in marketing campaign design, ranging from SMART objective setting through to selection of marketing channels and creative strategy and deciding on suitable marketing metrics.

In doing so you will consider how these activities are implemented across a variety of sectors, and also look into the increasing desire of marketers to align their activities with the sustainability agenda.

How will I learn on this module?

You will learn through a range of interactive on-line learning materials, scheduled on-line workshops at key points in the module, tutor guidance, feedback, and independent directed and self-directed learning.

Your learning is supported by a Teaching and Learning Plan, offering guidance on what you should be doing on a week-by-week basis. This will include engaging with the online learning materials, reading, engaging with practical tasks and preparing for the scheduled online interactive workshops. These are designed to assist with the completion of the assessment.

A discussion board will be utilised each week to encourage debate between you and your fellow students, and this will be reviewed and by the academic team. This will be used to encourage you to challenge the academic theory on marketing strategy.

As the module progresses you will also be encouraged to engage with emerging ideas and concepts in the marketing field. You will be encouraged to look into current marketing news in the press, covering company initiatives, marketing awards etc. – these can be very useful if seeking to ascertain marketing-based employment on graduation.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

The Teaching and Learning plan will provide several prompts and guidance to support you academically. Support will also include opportunities to gain feedback from workshop tutors and peers through the online discussion board and Blackboard Collaborate.

Your module is supported by an e-learning portal, which houses all the module learning materials, workshop resources, interactive activities, assessment details and various other support facilities which are provided by the University.

In addition, to assist you in developing knowledge, you will have access to the University's library facilities, including extensive electronic resources, eBooks and electronic academic journal articles. You will be provided with a wide-ranging electronic reading list that comprises various commercial and academic reports, and journal articles that show case the application of various marketing techniques presented in the module.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
• Examine marketing strategic decision making in a variety of marketing scenarios (ML01)
• Evaluate the practical usefulness of the marketing communications planning process (ML02)

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• Utilise industry data to interpret marketing scenarios (ML03)
• Present and justify strategic marketing proposals in a professional format (ML04)

Personal Values Attributes:
• Critically examine how the sustainability agenda influences marketing decision making (ML05)

How will I be assessed?

Summative assessment:

The module will be assessed via an individually completed 3,000-word business report. You are required to propose a new product / service offering for a brand which addresses a global sustainability issue and prepare a marketing strategy proposal for the brand. This will cover issues such as:

• Identification and Profiling of a suitable target market
• Proposal of new strategic ideas to optimise the brand’s performance

Formative Assessment:

You will receive feedback as you progress through the module which is designed to influence your end assessment., This will come in the form of tutor comment son discussion boards and also discussion in the live online classes, which will be focused on various aspects of the assessment.

Pre-requisite(s)

N/A

Co-requisite(s)

N/A

Module abstract

Marketing Strategy and Communications will provide you with an in-depth review of the key decisions marketers are responsible for, with a specific focus on the fascinating world of marketing campaign management. The module will lead you through the core strategies used by marketers to research, design, produce, distribute, sell and manage products and services to satisfy a variety of target markets.

You will gain a more strategic oversight of decisions around branding and new product development, as well as considering how marketers balance the benefits of digital communications channels such as mobile and social media against more traditional channels such as advertising and public relations.

Course info

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 18 months Distance Learning

Department Newcastle Business School

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start Upcoming Intakes - January 2025, April 2025, July 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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