We live in a rapidly changing world, facing complex political, environmental, economic, and health challenges that deeply influence consumer behavior and societal needs. Understanding these shifts is crucial for anticipating future consumer dynamics and the role marketing can play in addressing these issues. How can marketing contribute to solving societal problems while adapting to the evolving needs of consumers?

In this highly interactive, collaborative and practical course, we explore the dynamic interplay between ongoing societal challenges (e.g. climate crisis, wars, aging population, social inequality, mental health issues) and contemporary and future consumer needs. Together, we identify market responses (e.g. new product development, new business models, branding or communication strategies) that (successfully) address both the pressing societal challenges and evolving consumer needs.

To get a broad understanding of the topic, we will cover several different industries through various means. On one hand, different industries will be represented by guest speakers who bring their insights through talks and workshops. On the other hand, student groups will choose a specific industry to focus on throughout the term. This approach empowers students to become experts in their industry and to share their acquired knowledge with their peers.

After successfully completing this course, students will:

- have a comprehensive understanding of contemporary societal challenges
- understand the dynamic interplay of factors that influence contemporary consumer needs and desires and the resulting complex challenges for marketing practice
- be able to analyze marketing practices in terms of their implications for a range of societal challenges
- be able to locate relevant academic and practitioner literature, critically review it, and translate it into recommendations for action
- be capable of working on real-life case studies and deriving practical, actionable implications
- be able to condense insights into presentations and videos
- be able to engage their peers and moderate discussions
- be able to design and facilitate tasks for their peers
- be able to collaborate effectively within cross-cultural groups

As this is a highly interactive course, regular attendance and in-class participation are expected.

Students are allowed to miss up to 20% of the course time in justified cases and are expected to communicate all necessary absences such as due to illness in advance.

Each session consists of guest talks, interactive workshops and/or student presentations.

Teaching methods include but are not limited to:
- Lecture
- Talks by guest speakers
- In-class workshops (in groups) with guest speakers
- Group brainstorming
- Group presentations
- Peer moderation
- Peer tasks
- Fact sheets
- Insights videos
 

Marks will be awarded for the following components:

20% Fact sheets about guests (individual task)

10% Observation blitz talk and moderated discussion (group task)

20% Deep dive presenatation: Consumer desires and market responses (group task)

30% Insights video and peer task: Societal challenges (group task)

20% In-class exercises provided by guests (group task)

0 - 59 points: failed (5)

60 - 69 points: sufficient (4)

70 - 79 points: satisfactory (3)

80 - 89 points: good (2)

90 - 100 points: excellent (1)

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