Upon completion of this chapter, the student will be able to answer the following questions:

1. What is the importance of timely and relevant information inputs for marketing management decisions?
2. What is the typical problem-solving process followed by marketing managers?
3. What are the steps in the marketing research process, and what is the relationship between the marketing research process and creative problem solving?
4. How can managers obtain information about the market, competitors, and other external stakeholders, and how can this information provide "power" for marketing decisions?
5. How can information about internal organizational resources (financial, human, technological, marketing, etc.) be obtained and how can this information provide "power" for marketing decisions?
6. What are the types and uses of databases used by marketing managers?
7. What are the components of a Marketing Decision Support System (MDSS) and a Marketing Information System (MIS), and what are their purposes and applications?
8. What are the advantages, constraints, and issues involved in the acquisition and use of information gained through marketing intelligence?