4B004E - The Marketing Mindset 01 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2032 | Version 1
Associated Module Information
| Module Code: | 4B004E | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Module Title: | The Marketing Mindset | ||
| Faculty: | Faculty of Business and Creative Industries | ||
| Faculty Group: | Business Management | ||
| Faculty Sub Group: | Business Management | ||
| Module Leader: | Sarah Campbell | ||
| Module Team: | Mary Hedderman, Liam Newton | ||
| First Intended Intake: | SEP 2026 | Final Year of Intake: | 2031 |
| Date Closed: | |||
| Credit Value: | 30 | Credit Level: | 4 |
| Language: | English | ||
| Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: | 0 | ||
| Equivalent Module: | |||
| HECOS codes: | 100078 - business and management | ||
| HECOS Code Weighting: | 100 | ||
Document Version Information
| Version | 1 |
|---|---|
| Valid From | 01 Sep 2026 |
| Valid To | 31 Aug 2032 |
Module Aims
The main aims of the module are:
To introduce students to foundational marketing principles and the application of a marketing mindset across diverse organisational, cultural, and societal contexts.
To develop students’ ability to effectively utilise marketing planning frameworks within different contexts, with a focus on the SOSTAC® model.
To empower students to build and communicate a personal brand that enhances their employability and professional confidence.
Content Summary
This module introduces students to the core principles of marketing and marketing planning within different organisational, cultural, and societal contexts. Centred on the theme of ‘making things happen’, it encourages students to actively apply a marketing mindset to real-world scenarios including their own personal development.
The module begins by establishing a solid foundation in marketing principles before progressing to marketing planning, with particular focus on the SOSTAC® planning model (Smith, 1998). Developed in the 1990s, SOSTAC® remains a key framework in marketing education and practice and has recently been enhanced through the integration of artificial intelligence into each stage of the model.
As argued by Brodherson et al. (2024), placing marketing at the core of a growth strategy can significantly enhance business performance. Students will therefore explore the importance of marketing planning in providing the structure, clarity, and strategic direction that is critical in today’s competitive and rapidly evolving environment.
The latter part of the module will shift focus to ‘marketing self’ and personal development. According to Baruah (2024), 70% of hiring managers consider a strong personal brand essential for employment, yet many students lack confidence in marketing themselves to potential employers. This module aims to address this gap by guiding students in planning and developing their personal brand and employability skills. The module concludes with a Simulated Assessment Centre Day Challenge developed and executed in partnership with the careers staff.
By combining theoretical insight with practical application, this module equips students with the skills and confidence to plan effectively in both professional and personal contexts.
References:
Baruah, R., 2024. How to build a personal brand. Prospects.ac.uk. Available at: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/the-topic/how-to-build-a-personal-brand [Accessed 17 Oct. 2025]
Brodherson, M., Ellinas, J., See, E. and Tas, R., 2024. Put marketing at the core of your growth strategy. Harvard Business Review. Available at: https://hbr.org/2024/03/put-marketing-at-the-core-of-your-growth-strategy [Accessed 17 Oct. 2025].
Smith, P.R. (1998). Marketing Communications: An Integrated Approach. 2nd ed. London: Kogan Page.
Learning and Teaching Methods
| Activity Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 6 |
| Practical Classes and Workshops | 50 |
| Groupwork | 50 |
| Guided Study | 114 |
| Formative Assessment | 20 |
| Summative Assessment | 60 |
| Total Hours Selected | 300 |
Learning Outcomes
| # | Learning Outcome |
|---|---|
| LO1 | Apply core marketing principles and the SOSTAC® planning model to develop marketing plans across diverse organisational, cultural, and societal contexts. |
| LO2 | Implement personal branding planning to enhance employability and professional identity in competitive job markets. |
Module Requisites
N/A
Assessment Criteria
| Assessment Category | Assessment Type | Description | Duration | Word Count | Weight (%) | Best of? | Pass Mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asynchronous Assessment | Report 1 | Following a live brief from a small local business, students will work in teams to develop a tailored marketing plan using the SOSTAC® framework. This will be submitted in the form of a group written report. As a group report this assessment will mirror the real-life challenge of working within teams to achieve measurable outcomes | 0 | 5000 | 50 | No | 40 |
| Synchronous Onsite Oral Assessment | Group Presentation (Synchronous Onsite) | Students will apply the SOSTAC framework to themselves as emerging professionals. This reflective exercise will guide them in articulating their career aspirations and developing a focused, actionable plan to achieve them in their subsequent years of study. This will be assessed as a live presentation plus questions, graded by a panel composed of one academic staff member and one member of the careers team. These will take place as part of an end of module Simulated Assessment Centre Day Challenge | 10 | N/A | 50 | No | 40 |
Assessment Matrix
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| LO1 | LO2 | ||
| Report 1 | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Group Presentation (Synchronous Onsite) | ✔ | ✔ | |