3.1 Discussion: Devotional – Is Competition Evil or Encouraged?

You identified a company or industry of interest for your degree program. As you think about the inherent competition in the market, and the impact of new offerings that will replace other offerings in the market, think about and respond to these questions:

How compatible or helpful are these passages in give us guidance on how to run a business in your industry of interest?
Compare the amount and type of concern we should have for another business in our industry of interest versus what we should have for an individual person working in that industry?
Is it possible to run a business in your industry of interest in such a manner that you will be successful without taking away from another companys market, its sales, and its profits, such that the other company could need to reduce employment or close, which would seem to not be in the spirit of Christian community and fellowship? Why?

3.2 Discussion: Research-based Peer Alternative Response – Non-emergency transport for seniors and elderly

Start your work stating my peer didn’t submit assignment and here are my thoughts:

You will need to do appropriate research on the industry and category so that you understand them in order to make an educated analysis and recommendation for this section of the consultants report. It is important to start out with a thorough understanding of the category and industry. You should not rely on the original writers research and description of the industry.
You will provide a 250- to 350-word review to your peer as a post in the discussion forum. Your review must provide a different or alternative perspective, interpretation, conclusion, and/or recommendation for at least one (1) of the four (4) elements noted in the assignment (these should be the four titled sections from the ), based on your personal objective analysis of the category using credible sources. You do not need to have an alternative for all four elements of the assignment, but your alternative may involve more than one element since many of them are related.
You will not discuss the original writers analysis or recommendation; all of your comments must be focused on your objective interpretation and analysis. You must have a distinctly different perspective and/or recommendation in your alternative response. In other words, you are looking at the same scenario in the same industry and/or category, but you are coming to a different conclusion such that any form of I agree in your review is not an option.
You must cite at least two credible sources that were not used by the original writer to support your interpretation and recommendation.
Cite your work per current APA standards, however, indenting of the references is not required due to the discussion board format. (See )

3.3 Discussion: Research-based Marketing Plan Initial Proposal – Internal and External Marketing Environments

Construct a proposal to U.S. based micro loan provider of 1000 words (+/- 50 words) using at least four credible and objective sources not provided as resources in the course in your analysis, plus at least one source provided in the course reading list.
Use the titles from the to create four sections for this part of the consultants report:
1. Porters five forces model
2. Other macroenvironmental external factors
3. Required Internal Resources and Competencies to Compete in the Market
4. Required Licenses, Patents, and Rulings or Legal Requirements to Compete in the Market
Porters five forces model is a standard for industry analysis, used extensively to understand the core profitability of a market. Because you have been hired to provide expert objective insight, you are expected to deliver a deep-level analysis using the Porter model. It is not the obvious factors, such as the existing competition will fight for market share, that create confidence in your ability from the client. It is the identification of the core foundational elements of an industry and the complicated interaction of external and therefore non-controllable factors that determine if a product launch is likely to be successful. Identifying those factors will make you seem valuable to your client.
It is very likely that U.S. based micro loan provider may not have all of the required internal competencies and resources necessary to compete in the new market. Since you are not an insider, you do not know all of your clients capabilities, capacities, and resources. You do not need to know. Your role here is to provide a thorough objective description of what is needed, not to analyze or rate your client. Therefore, you will need to provide an objective overview of these needed competencies and resources so U.S. based micro loan providers management team can determine what it has and what it needs.
Cite your work per current APA standards, however, indenting of the references is not required due to the discussion board format. (See )

3.4 Assignment: Research-based Marketing Plan Revised Final Proposal – Product Differentiation and Positioning

This is your revised final draft of the product differentiation and positioning section of your consultants report. It is based on what you posted in 1.3 and on your peers comments and response posted for your benefit in 2.2.
Your revised final report must integrate your peers alternative analysis or recommendation as an alternative perspective as part of your final report. You must either accept your peers perspective as a replacement to your initial proposal based on adequate credible theory and current marketing practice to accept it or you must provide adequate credible theory and current marketing practice to reject it. If you accept it as the correct analysis or recommendation, then the peer alternative will become the primary focus of your final paper, and your original analysis and/or recommendation will be noted as an alternative perspective that you have rebutted through cited research. If you do not accept the alternative, then you only need to discuss it as an alternative and provide objective and qualified reasons to reject it.
Use these seven titles from the to create seven sections for this part of the consultants report:
1. Current annual sales volume in dollars and/or units sold in the market
2. Current competitors and their offerings, including points of differentiation for each offering indicating how they are positioned to each other in the market
3. Current price points of competitors
4. Projected overall market growth rate for the next five years
5. Projected changes to overall pricing in the market for the next five years
6. Recommended position and points of differentiation for the U.S. based micro loan provider offering
7. Complete buyer profile of the target customer
The body of your paper (i.e. excluding title page, graphics, appendices, and references page) must be 1300 words (+/- 50 words). In the event that your peer did not provide feedback, your length must be 1000 words (+/- 0 words) and you will not be penalized for not including the missing feedback.
You must use, cite, and reference at least five credible sources not provided in the course documents, plus at least one source provided in the course documents.
Your paper must be submitted as a Word document.
Your paper must be formatted to current APA standards including title page, body of the paper, citations, headings, graphics, appendices, and references page. (See