This module is a first year foundation module in marketing and intended to introduce students to the subject. The module does not assume that the students have any prior knowledge about the subject. However, an interest in and awareness of marketing practice issues will benefit the students in understanding aspects of the marketing function. While the module introduces the subject to the student, it highlights the diverse contexts of marketing setting - across different firm sizes, at national and international levels and for both goods and services. Particularly, in line with the scheme focus, the module concentrates on marketing issues relevant to entrepreneurial firms. The module examines the marketing concept in the context of entrepreneurship, the marketing environment for new ventures and small firms, the challenges of a regional, local and global marketplace, use of market information and research to understand the marketing setting, strategic marketing planning for new ventures and small firms and the marketing mix and its application for new ventures and small firms. The module will draw upon the marketing and entrepreneurship literature and use theories, concepts and cases to build an understanding and appreciation of the marketing function for entrepreneurial firms.

The main aim of the module is to enable students to develop a critical understanding of the significance of the marketing function and its role and contribution to the development of firms.