PART 1: General Research Research and discuss Maslow’s theory of needs and how it is applied to marketing. Resources MUST include articles in the library’s full-text databases. Define the stages of the consumer behavior model (or industrial model, if appropriate) and apply how the concepts affect the marketing effort. Research MUST include material from articles in the library’s full-text databases. PART 2: Application to Product/Service (NOTE: this section of the assignment will become part of your Final Strategic Marketing Plan) Provide a quick overview of the product or service you created – you should continue using the content from the U2 Discussion Board. Even though you have "created" a product or service, the applications and research in this section will be real. Identify your target market. Provide a specific demographic profile and rationale for this decision. Another source that may help you: The US Census Bureau''s American Fact Finder. Consider the size of the market and its purchasing power. Research is required to back-up your selection and to provide statistics to show that it is a viable market. Analyze your competition. Who are they? Who are the biggest players? How large is the market? What are the trends/forecasts in the industry? How does your product/service fit in? Hoover''s Pro in the Library is a good tool for this section; it may be accessed under “Find Web Resources” The assignment requires the use of ARTICLES from the library’s full-text databases. Articles are found in periodicals. These are not to be confused with eBooks or Reference Books. The most popular databases in marketing are: ABI Inform Global, Academic Search Premier, and Business Source Premier. Your report MUST include a reference list. All research should be cited in the body of the paper. In-text citations and corresponding references should be included in your paper. For more information on APA, please visit the APA Lab. The paper should be written in third person; this means words like “I”, “we”, and “you” are not appropriate. The use of direct quotes is discouraged, but may be used sparingly in appropriate situations. Your assignment should contain a cover page, an abstract page and a reference page in addition to the body. The body of the paper should be 5-6 pages in length - starting with a brief one paragraph introduction and ending with a short conclusion. The entire submission will be 8-9 pages in length. Please submit your assignment as a Word document in APA format using the attached TEMPLATE. Points Possible: 150 Date Due: Sunday, Oct 19, 2008 Objective: Examine the major influences in current consumer and organizational buying decisions. Discuss the key factors, such as demographic, economic, natural, technological, political, and cultural developments, that affect marketing strategies. Develop a strategic marketing plan. Analyze the strategies for determining competitors, objectives, strengths, weaknesses, and reaction patterns. Apply critical thinking skills to analyze business situations. Use effective communication skills.