Week 5 – Discussion Forum 1
Your initial discussion thread is due on Day 3 (Thursday) and you have until Day 7 (Monday) to respond to your classmates. Your grade will reflect both the quality of your initial post and the depth of your responses. Refer to the Discussion Forum Grading Rubric under the Settings icon above for guidance on how your discussion will be evaluated.
Tip: This week, you will have two main discussion forum posts. Your discussion forum posts are due on 2 different days. You need to work harder to submit well-examined and thoroughly analyzed initial posts, one of which is due on Thursday of the week, and the other is due on Saturday of the week. Please dedicate enough time to each forum question and make sure you use your “critical thinking” and your “analytical/problem-solving” mind. Understanding these concepts will be vital in order to complete your final project in Week 5.
Sustainability, Green Marketing, and Cause Marketing
Prior to beginning work on this discussion forum,
Read
- Chapter 10 of the course text, Principles of Marketing
- adidas: Live Your Passion for Sport and Make the Planet More Sustainable
- Links to an external site., and
- Strengthen Your Customer Relationship by Asking, ‘What Are We Doing for Others?’
Instructions
To demonstrate their social responsibility, many companies engage in sustainability, causes, or green marketing efforts; however, such efforts can backfire. In recent years, the terms greenwashing and causewashing have emerged to refer to marketing efforts that capitalize on the goodwill associated with environmental or charitable causes but reflect minimal commitment.
In this discussion forum, you will discuss these topics:
- Explain why it is important for companies to demonstrate their social responsibility through sustainability, green marketing, and cause marketing. Refer to both articles listed.
- Would such efforts make you more or less likely to buy from these brands? Why?
- Find an example of a greenwashing or causewashing ad. Include a copy of the ad in your post.
- Compare the difference between a real commitment and a minimal commitment to social responsibility through green marketing or cause marketing.
- Your initial post must be at least 350 words.
- Be sure to properly cite your textbook and refer to and cite both articles in your response according to the APA: Citing Within Your Paper
Links to an external site. guide.
- Be sure to use subject headers for each of the questions asked.
- Review the Level Heading section of Introduction to APA
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- Links to an external site. resource from the Writing Center for more information.
Guided Response:
- Respond to at least three of your fellow marketers by Day 7 (Monday), including one who has a different opinion than you on one of the questions, and attempt to convince them of your position.
- You are encouraged to post your required replies earlier in the week to promote more meaningful discussion and collaboration between you and your fellow marketers.
- Continue to monitor the discussion forum through Day 7 (Monday), and respond to anyone who replies to your initial post.
Skills Learned This activity helps you practice the following industry-required skills:
- Digital/Social Media Marketing
- Problem Formation/Solving
- Analytical Skills
