This activity is important because as an IMC manager, you must be able to understand the significance of setting objectives to the IMC$$s success. It is critical to begin with sound, realistic objectives before the budgeting takes place.

The goal of this activity is to demonstrate your understanding of the value of setting IMC objectives and how critical it is to a successful IMC.

Read the case and answer the questions that follow.

Weight Mates is a small chain of seven diet and weight loss centers. It has existed for $25$ years and has experienced uneven sales and profits over that time. Members, mostly women, often join the center for several months paying weekly fees and buying prepared packaged food. Typically, they are either successful in their weight loss goal and terminate their relationship with Weight Mates, or they are unsuccessful in reaching their goal, give up$,$ and also quit. Occasionally, after a year or two, former members will rejoin again for less than a $46-$month membership as a $$touch$-$up$$ program.

The owners, Fred and Mary Green, have sporadically employed advertising and promotions over the $25$ years they have been in business. However, they have never really used any budgeting approach other than the affordable method, or $$all$-$you$-$can$-$afford$$ spending. Additionally, the Greens have never set communication objectives in the ads and promotions they employ. Tactics and messages have been fairly random. With the assistance of Claire, a Weight Mates member who is a marketing director for a construction firm, they decide to approach the communication task differently and learn the value of setting objectives before budgeting.

When Claire suggests to the owners that they should begin the process by setting IMC goals before determining the budget, she tells them that organizations often do not set realistic goals for all of the following reasons except

Multiple Choice

the principals in the organization do not understand how the IMC fits with the other aspects of the firm$$s marketing goals and general operations.

managers have conflicting perspectives on how the IMC objectives mesh with the organization$$s overall profitability and sales.

it is far too difficult to operationalize, especially for small$-$to$-$medium size businesses.

the principals in the organization disagree on what the objectives actually are.

the firm is unclear of what its resources actually are.