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Positive Outcomes Of College/Industry Partnerships. Acknowledgements.
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Positive Outcomes Of College/Industry Partnerships
Acknowledgements The students and instructors of Nebraska Indian Community College (NICC) acknowledge the support and encouragement of the staff of Lakota Foods. Without their willingness to supply products and vital company information this marketing plan would not have been possible.
NICC Mission • The Nebraska Indian Community College provides quality higher education and lifelong educational opportunities for Umonhon (Omaha), Isanti (Santee Sioux) and other learners.
Vision Components • NICC is envisioned as a comprehensive Tribal College. • The college is distinctive in serving diverse people. • The identity of the college is framed by a substantive commitment to multicultural learning.
Project Demographics • Instructors: Don Torgerson, MA, Don Bad Moccasin • Long distant learning (VTC) • Nine students • Major Course Objective: Develop a Marketing Plan
Class Marketing Objectives • Course Objectives • Implement marketing concepts and strategies into tribal agri-business • Allow students a hands-on experience • Enhance creative and critical thinking skills • Applied marketing skills • Develop a code of ethics applicable in the business environment
Lakota Popcorn • Lower Brule Sioux Tribe • High quality • Affordable products • Native American traditions and values
Hypothesis • Lakota Popcorn suffers from the lack of name recognition and product distribution
NICC Marketing Plan/Lakota Popcorn • Mission Statement: Lakota Popcorn produces high quality, affordable products for consumers in order to generate revenue to support economic and employment opportunities for the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. We use our products to raise cultural awareness of Native American Traditions and Values.
Target Markets • Casinos • High distribution centers • HyVee (Iowa Based Grocery Store) • WalMart (Tri-State) • Gift Shops • Theaters
Consumer Survey • Informal survey • On and off campus • 148 people surveyed • Findings and Conclusion • Handout
Survey Questions • Do you eat popcorn? • Do you eat microwave popcorn? • Do you eat butter microwave popcorn? • Do you eat low-fat/sodium? • Do you eat natural popcorn? • Gender? • Number of children eating popcorn?
SWOT Analysis • Strengths • Capacity to produce more products • Ownership of production • Vertical integration implemented • Centrally located • Adequate capital • Support of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe
SWOT Analysis • Weaknesses • Lack of brand recognition • Lack of marketing direction • Lack of marketing goals • Lack of an established distribution and retail system
SWOT Analysis • Opportunities • Expansion of natural health foods • Enlarging environmental friendly packaging • Raise cultural awareness of Native American Traditions and Values
SWOT Analysis • Threats • Variation in weather patterns • Strong competitions among the popcorn producers • Established competitors in the snack food industry • Cost of transportation • Consumer fickleness
Resources You May or May Not be Sleeping With • Industry partnerships rarely involve faculty type partners • Look outside the box for ways to utilize skilled, interested stakeholders • Pursue contacts for classroom visits and regular consultations, as well as co-teaching, lectures, etc
May or May Not (cont.) • Scan your environment for people who can motivate and possibly employ your students • Provide support for your faculty to grow and develop
Assessment Data • Attendance/Retention • 15 registered • 9 stopped coming by week 4 • The marketing module began in the 4th week • Remaining 6 students maintained an average of 85% or above attendance • 6 successfully completed the class
Observations • High interest in the project • The application of learned skills and knowledge • Enhancement of group dynamics
Student Response/Learned Outcomes • Hands on experience • Piqued interest • Opportunity to apply learned concepts and skills • Ethical Practices: Personal/Business
Challenges Faced in Developing a Educational/ Partnership • Connecting class objectives with the business environment • Conveying the purpose of the project in a precise format • Gaining mutual trust • Gathering data
Future Opportunities • Expand partnerships in agri-business/ business • Explore Career Opportunities and Choices • Student applying new found skills and knowledge • Developing closer working partnerships