Dis2: Collaborative Learning Environment
Please read these instructions thoroughly before posting to the discussion board.
Each discussion board question is graded on the basis of 20 points total for completeness of the answer that is referenced from the literature and responses to two of the postings of your colleagues. Please use the reply button rather than starting a new topic/thread when replying to others. There will be no extensions for Discussion board posts. The objective of the Discussion Boards is to encourage a collaborative learning environment. If you are unable to post during the week of the module in a timely fashion, you cannot interact in that collaborative learning environment.
Student responses to discussion questions must be substantive, that is, thoughtful and analytical. You should organize your thoughts, ideas, and supporting evidence before you begin responding. You should be sure to incorporate correlations with the assigned readings or topics. You should try to stay on topic but avoid summarizing. Your goal is to contribute to the collaborative learning environment with depth and with the purpose of motivating discussion. Discussions are based on evidence. Opinions are valuable, but if used in a discussion, they should be supported with appropriate cites. You should ALWAYS respond to two students discussing questions that are different than the discussion question you selected to answer. This enables you to get experience and information on three topics total! For example:
- Initial Post – You decide to answer Question #2 and post your initial 200+ word thread with 3 cites
- Response Post #1 – You then must select a person to respond to from questions 1, 3, or 4 for your 150+ word response; you choose 3
- Response Post #2 – You then must select another person to respond to from questions 1 or 4 for your second 150+ word response
Question 1 – Communicating and Marketing to Different Generations
Many of the articles about the generational differences focus on how different generations prefer to communicate. There is also a lot of discussion about how managers and organizations need to communicate in many different ways to reach people and marketers need to market in many different ways and use different channels to reach people. However, using many different ways of communication and doing it many times is not always efficient.
What is your advice to a manager or marketer on how to be effective in communicating or marketing to different generations but also be efficient?
Also, are there common distractors that are getting in the way of the intended audience receiving the message that apply to all generations? If so, what can be done to minimize those distractions?
Question 2 – Gen Z Effect — Is What is New Also What is Old?
Generation Z and New Technology’s Effect on Culture
Use the links to explore Generation Z and then discuss how quickly you think the market should get ready to target this segment of the market differently than Generation Y. Do you think the emergence of Generation Z will yield a resurgence of some traditional forms of communication, hiring, and purchase patterns OR will they mimic Generation Y?
Question 3 – Have Changing Demographics Impacted the Theme Park Industry?
Many theme parks have been able to strategically develop products, festivals, concerts, and other options that target Generation Xers. As the Baby Boom post World War II began to slow in the 1960s, the theme park industry correspondingly saw revenues in the 1970’s and early 1980’s decline. New parks, new themed areas, featured high profile rides, and additional investments slowed until the industry could adjust to the overall declining birthrate. Surprisingly, Disney was able to enjoy the lesser boom in the 90’s of Generation Y (Boomer Babies).
Walt Disney World has been lucky with the early strategic decision-making that focused on purchasing land for additional growth in the future. As a result, a variety of theme park options in the Disney family sprung up in the 1990’s – 2000’s. Further, specifically target products such as Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival, the Festival of the Arts, a number of themed marathons, and Epcot’s International Flower and Garden Festival. These targeted festivals, parks or areas of parks have yielded very lucrative revenues from Boomers and Generation Xers.
As we move into the 2020’s the birthrate is forecast to continue to decline. How can Disney parks in international locations (without significant additional land) (such as Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, or Paris) find ways to generate additional revenues potentially targeting aging segments? Discuss and be creative! I have included this question since the semester project will revolve around the Disney company.