Unanswered [6] | Urgent [0]
  

Home / Writing Feedback   % width Posts: 11


GRE (argument): Recommendation to change the marketing style of a company


ershad193 14 / 333 5  
Jul 14, 2010   #1
The following recommendation was made by the Marketing manager to the Marketing Advisory Committee of Shell Adhesives.
"Because of declining profits, we must revert back to net marketing instead of marketing our products through the Sell-Well distributors. Net marketing has proven effective in case of Stick Fast adhesives, which is a serious market leader in the field. They have hired the services of 'Web Sell', which has been net marketing for Flora Garments for the past five years. Stick Fast's sales have increased by almost 40% in the last financial year. It also has won the Best Company award at the recently concluded industries meet Generation Next."

Discuss how well-reasoned you find this argument.
(Time limit: 30 mins)

Net marketing is possibly one of the best marketing techniques used in the present world. As it can reach the furthest and remotest corners of the earth, its lure is obvious. But the recommendation made by the Marketing Manager of Shell Adhesives to revert back to net marketing is preposterous, and does not take into account all the variables involved.

For instance, the assumption that profits are affected only by the type of marketing used is flawed. Profits are governed by lots of factors, such as, demand, working capital, volume of production, etc. Therefore, change in the type of marketing may not yield the desired results if the other factors are not considered.

Moreover, following the lead of Stick Fast adhesives may not be a good idea considering the fact that they are the market leaders. This means that they already have a large customer base, which in turn creates the awareness for a new product. Also, Stick Fast may be producing adhesives which are different in nature to ones produced by Shell Adhesives, which create a different sort of demand. For example, household adhesives and industrial adhesives have different types of customers.

Finally, the 40% increase in the sales of Stick Fast's adhesives in the past year does not necessarily mean that it was a result of net marketing. It could very well be the reaction to a particularly innovative and attractive product. Thus the claim of a major effect of net marketing can only be substantiated if this trend carries on for a few years.

The argument would have if the above mentioned flaws were taken into account. The Marketing Manager needs to carry out a proper market survey before such a recommendation can be made.
Azeri 10 / 137  
Jul 14, 2010   #2
exhaustive analysis; I think, you mentioned all controversial points.

Just one oversight, I found: The argument would have - what? - if the above mentioned flaws were taken into account.
OP ershad193 14 / 333 5  
Jul 14, 2010   #3
Hahaha...I always make those typing mistakes.

The argument would have been sound if the above mentioned flaws were taken into account.

Thanks for pointing that out.
vrajveer89 8 / 21  
Jul 14, 2010   #4
Hi

It also has won the Best Company award at the recently concluded industries meet Generation Next."

You can again argue that this award was given to company based on its overall performance including the quality of the products and not on its marketing strategy. The marketing strategy might not have influenced it at all.

Cheers
Mustafa1991 8 / 373 4  
Jul 15, 2010   #5
This argument is extremely weak. You need to identify the key points. Make no assumptions.

Since profits are declining, Shell Adhesives should use net marketing instead of Sell-Well. Net marketing has proven effective for Stick Fast.

Well, how so???

They did hire the services of Web Sell, and sales did increase ~40% in the last fiscal year. When did they hire the services of Web Sell???

That's a fatal flaw in this argument. There is no indication as to when Web Sell was retained, therefore, there is no link at all between Web Sell and the increased sales; that is, there's not even a circumstantial piece of evidence, linking net marketing to the increased sales.

I went into partnership with my friend 40 years ago, and my profits surged last year; ergo, my friend must have caused profits to increase ???

This argument is bunk.
OP ershad193 14 / 333 5  
Jul 15, 2010   #6
Mustafa
Excellent point. I should have considered that.

Rajveer
I did think about that one, but I ran out of time.

Anyway, thanks a lot guys.
EF_Kevin 8 / 13,321 129  
Jul 16, 2010   #7
we must revert back to net marketing instead of

One of my teachers in college was very particular about the word "revert." She hated it when anyone would say "revert back," because it is redundant. "Revert" is enough without "back."

...we must revert back to net marketing instead of...

does not take into account all the variables involved.

After this sentence, I would add a thesis sentence that gives a list of reasons you find the argument unconvincing. I think this intro needs at least one more sentence.

Missing words here: The argument would have if the above mentioned flaws were taken into account.

Hey, you know what I just thought of? The best way to prepare for this kind of essay is to google this:
critical thinking logical fallacies list

Study and memorize several logical fallacies, and you will easily be able to recognize them in any argument.
OP ershad193 14 / 333 5  
Jul 16, 2010   #8
One of my teachers in college was very particular about the word "revert." She hated it when anyone would say "revert back," because it is redundant. "Revert" is enough without "back."
...we must revert back to net marketing instead of...

:) You corrected the prompt. :D

After this sentence, I would add a thesis sentence that gives a list of reasons you find the argument unconvincing. I think this intro needs at least one more sentence.

You're right.

Thanks man!
EF_Kevin 8 / 13,321 129  
Jul 17, 2010   #9
I know I corrected the prompt! It just reminded me of that teacher...

:-)
rajeshaaidu 2 / 31  
Aug 2, 2010   #10
Dear Kevin,

I think revert back is correct. You are right that meaning of both the words are same, but only when revert and back both are used as intransitive verbs. But, I think here revert is an intransitive verb and back is used as an adverb. So, revert back is correct.

Cheers,
Rajesh
EF_Kevin 8 / 13,321 129  
Aug 3, 2010   #11
The sentence was like this:
We must revert back to net marketing.

My high school teacher would have done this:
we must revert back to net marketing.

It is an intransitive verb, but that has nothing to do with my teacher's argument. She argued that revert means "to return to a former condition" so saying

"I need to revert back to my old method..."
is like saying
"I need to return back to the house."--- this is just a clumsy way to write.

This is sleek:
I need to revert to my old method. I need to return to the house.

Anyway, you may be correct... I don't know. But so far I still think it's best not to ever use "revert back." There are a lot of people who think this is incorrect, so it is best to just avoid it.


Home / Writing Feedback / GRE (argument): Recommendation to change the marketing style of a company
Writing
Editing Help?
Fill in one of the forms below to get professional help with your assignments:

Graduate Writing / Editing:
GraduateWriter form ◳

Best Essay Service:
CustomPapers form ◳

Excellence in Editing:
Rose Editing ◳

AI-Paper Rewriting:
Robot Rewrite ◳