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Choose and Approve Research Methods

Topic Definitions #

Structure of Modern Marketing Analysis #

Environment

Customer

Market

Strategy

Section 1. Macro Factors Analysis
Picture of Purpose:

Purpose:

Understand the environment in which the project will operate.
This stage identifies long-term trends and external forces that cannot be controlled but must be taken into account.

Picture of Key tasks:

Key tasks:

  • Scan the political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal contexts (PESTEL).
  • Identify drivers and barriers that may reshape the market.
  • Model development scenarios and assess their sensitivity for the project.

Tools and methods:

  • PESTEL Analysis #

    a basic framework for analyzing the external environment.

  • Scenario Trend Scan (STEEP/DESTEP) #

    identification of long-term trends and early signals.

  • Cross-Impact Assessment #

    evaluation of how factors interact (e.g., how technological progress affects legislation).

  • Sensitivity Mapping #

    visualization of which scenarios are most risky or promising.

Picture of Outputs:

Outputs:

  • A map of external factors and trends.
  • Scenarios with probability assessment.
  • A list of opportunities and threats (O/T) for integration into SWOT.
Section 2. Customers’ Needs & Unique Selling Proposition
Picture of Purpose:

Purpose:

To develop an understanding of customers’ real needs and determine what makes the future product unique.
If the first step described “the world around,” this one describes “the customer’s world.”

Picture of Key tasks:

Key tasks:

  • Understand who the customers are and what matters to them.
  • Identify the points where customer tasks overlap with product functions.
  • Examine the emotional and cultural context of customer perception.

Tools and methods:

  • Segmentation & Personas #

    identifying customer groups based on demographic, behavioral, and psychographic characteristics.

  • JTBD (Jobs To Be Done) #

    analyzing the context in which the customer “hires” the product to accomplish a task.

  • Customer Journey Map (CJM) #

    visualizing the customer’s path from need awareness to post-purchase experience.

  • Value Proposition Canvas (VPC) → USP #

    aligning customer pains and product value into a cohesive offering.

  • Vibe & Cultural Factors #

    emotional codes, cultural markers, and references that shape the brand’s “atmosphere.”

Picture of Outputs:

Outputs:

  • Personas, JTBD maps, and a VPC with a validated Unique Selling Proposition (USP).
  • Strengths and weaknesses of the product’s value (S/W for SWOT).
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Updated on 18.11.2025