Syllabus of IBPS SO Marketing exam
When it comes to the IBPS Specialist Officer (SO) Marketing exam, the syllabus has remained a well-guarded secret, never officially disclosed by IBPS. However, there’s a way to navigate this challenge and define the syllabus limits – by delving into previous exam papers. Yet, it’s worth noting that IBPS never releases these question papers for SO Marketing Officer, as the exam is conducted online, maintaining its confidentiality.
While various websites attempt to present the syllabus of the IBPS SO Marketing officer, these offerings are largely rooted in guesswork and an analysis of past papers, gleaned from student recollections post-exam.
So, how can one establish the syllabus boundaries without access to official guidelines or prior papers?
At Human Peritus, we have diligently collated and analyzed annual question patterns, relying on the memories of our students. This process has enabled us to outline a boundary of the syllabus for IBPS SO Marketing exam.
Contrary to the common belief that a thorough reading of Philip Kotler’s Marketing Management suffices, it’s imperative to debunk this misconception. The IBPS SO Marketing paper comprises only 60% content from Kotler, leaving the remaining 40% to be sourced from alternative sources/topics “(topics 2 to 6 covers remaining 40%). Check out the video in the middle of this page to understand this point in detail about syllabus analysis of IBPS SO Marketing exam.
Based on a meticulous evaluation of past exam papers, our analysis has crystallized the IBPS SO Marketing syllabus into the following sub-topics:
1. Marketing Management (covers 60% syllabus)
2. Marketing Research
3. Strategic Management
4. Digital Marketing
5. Consumer Behaviour
6. Specific areas like Forecasting Methods, Logos and Taglines, Market Structures, and more.
Thus, as we delve deeper into the IBPS SO Marketing examination, a pivotal realization emerges – approximately 60% of the paper draws from Philip Kotler’s seminal work, “Marketing Management.” However, the crux of the matter lies in selecting the most pertinent edition of Kotler’s book. Are you aware that the variations between different editions of the same book can be substantial (check out just index page of 14th edition and 16th edition) ? Notably, disparities exist not only between two editions but also within the confines of a single edition, spanning Indian edition and USA edition of Kotler. It’s noteworthy that questions come from any of these editions, adding a layer of complexity to the exam dynamics. Complexity is:
How many Kotlers can we cover ? Which ones?
It is advised to cover at least two editions of Kotler.
Cracking the IBPS SO Marketing exam requires a strategic approach that surpasses standard perceptions and dives into the nuances that define each subject area. Check out the Syllabus of IBPS SO Marketing given below.
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1. Introduction to Marketing- Concepts and Approaches
Market
Marketing
Customer Needs, Wants and Demands
Marketing Orientations
Holistic Marketing
Marketing Mix
Recent Trends in Marketing
2. Developing Marketing Strategy
Business Portfolio Strategies
Marketing Strategy
Porter Generic Strategies
Value Chain Analysis
SWOT Analysis
Marketing Plan
Marketing Control
3. Marketing Information and Forecasting
Analyzing Marketing Environment
Marketing Information System
Demand Forecasting
Estimating Current and Future Demand
4. Marketing Research
Process of Marketing Research
Research Instruments
Sampling Plan
Measuring Marketing Productivity
5. Consumer Behaviour and Industrial Markets
Factors influencing Consumer Behaviour
Consumers’ Buying Decision Process
Consumers’ Buying Decision Behaviour
Buyer Decision Process in New Products
Theories of Consumer Behaviour
Business Buyer Behaviour
Business Buyer Behaviour Model
6. Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning
Market Segmentation
Market Targeting
Differentiation and Positioning
7. Product Decisions
Product Levels
Product Classification
Product Decisions
New Product Development
Product Adoption Process
Product Life Cycle
8. Pricing Decisions
Pricing Strategies
New Product Pricing Strategies
Product Mix Pricing Strategies
Price-Adjustment Strategies
Price Changes
Public Policy and Pricing
Pricing during PLC
9. Services Marketing
Types of Service Marketing
Managing Service Marketing
Gap Analysis
10. Distribution Decisions
Channel Management
Channel Conflict
Channel Integration and Systems
Logistics Management
International Logistics Management
Supply Chain Management
Retail Management
Retail Marketing Decision
Recent trends in Retail in India
Wholesaling
Wholesale Marketing Decision
11. Promotion Decisions
Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC)
Marketing Communication Process
Promotion Budget
Promotion Mix Strategies
Advertising Management
Sales Promotion
Sales Promotion Program
Publicity
Personal Selling
Direct Marketing
12. Brand Management
Brand Equity Models
Brand Elements
Designing Brand Strategy
Brand Portfolios
Managing Brand Equity
13. Marketing Ethics
Marketing Ethics
Product Related Ethics
Price Related Ethics
Place Related Ethics
Promotion Related Ethics
Consumer Protection
14. Managing Marketing Organization and Control
Organizing Marketing Department
Marketing Implementation and Control
15. Digital Marketing
Digital Marketing
16. Social and Not-for-Profit Marketing
Socially Responsible Behaviour
Cause-Related Marketing
Sustainable Marketing
Marketing & Environmental Concerns
Social Marketing
Not-for-Profit Marketing
17. Customer Value and Customer Relationship Management
Customer Value
Customer Lifetime Value
Customer Profitability
Customer Loyalty
Customer Satisfaction
Customer Relationship Management
Database Marketing
18. International Marketing
International Marketing Decisions
Types of Global Firms
19. Competition Analysis
Analyzing Competition
Competitive Marketing Strategies
Competitive Positions
Balancing Customer and Competitor Orientations
1. Strategic Management – Concept and Types
Levels of Strategy
Forms of Strategy
Process of Strategy
2. External Analysis
PESTEL Framework
ETOP
QUEST
Porter’s 5 Forces
Impact Matrix
Strategic Group Mapping
3. Internal Analysis
Competitive Advantage
Critical Success Factors
Value Chain Analysis
Benchmarking
SWOT Analysis
SFAS Matrix
Strategic Advantage Profile (SAP)
4. Business Strategies
Generic Competitive Strategies
First Mover Advantages
Cooperative Strategies
Industry Life Cycle
5. Corporate Strategies
Growth Strategy
Stability Strategy
Retrenchment Strategy
Combination Strategy
Turnaround Management
6. Business Portfolio Analysis
BCG’s Matrix
Internal-External (IE) Matrix
GE McKinsey Matrix
Experience Curve
Grand Strategy Matrix
SPACE Matrix
7. Strategy Implementation and Evaluation
Strategy Implementation
Strategy and Structure
Strategy Evaluation and Control
Control Mechanisms
Strategic Incentive Management
McKinsey’s 7S Model
8. Management of Strategic Change
Barriers to Change
Models of strategic change
Change Requirements
1. Introduction to Marketing Research
Marketing Research Process
Types of Marketing Research
Sources of Marketing Research
2. Research Problem and Research Approach
Research Problem
Research Approach
3. Research Design
Classifications of Research Design
Other Research Types
Errors in Research Design
4. Secondary Data Analysis
Types of Data
Types of Secondary Data
Data Mining
Geodemographic Data Analysis
Customer Relationship Management
Big Data
Web Analytics
5. Qualitative Research: Approaches
Phenomenology
Ethnographic Research
Grounded Theory
Case Study
Action Research
6. Qualitative Research: Techniques and Analysis
Focus Group
In-depth interview
Projective techniques
Data Analysis for Qualitative research
Approaches to Data Analysis
7. Survey Method and Observation
Modes of Survey Questionnaire
Evaluation of the Survey Methods
Sources of Errors in Surveys
Observation Techniques
Types of Observation Techniques
8. Causal Research and Experimentation
Causality
Experiment Method
Steps of Experimental method
Types of Extraneous Variables
Controlling Extraneous Variables
Other issues in Experimental Design
Validity
Classification of Experimental designs
Laboratory and Field Experiments
Basic versus Factorial Experimental Designs
Test Marketing
9. Measurement and Scaling
Measurement and Scaling
Scale characteristics
Types of Scales
Nature of Scales
Types of Scaling techniques
Multi Item Scale
Scale Evaluation
10. Questionnaire Design
Basic Considerations in Questionnaire Design
Questionnaire Design Process
11. Sampling and Hypothesis Testing
Process of Sampling Design
Classification of Sampling Techniques
Sampling Distribution
Hypothesis Testing
Type I and Type II Errors
Process of Hypothesis Testing
12. Data Analysis Approaches
Factor Analysis
Cluster Analysis
Multidimensional Scaling
Conjoint Analysis
13. Forecasting Techniques
Forecasting Methods
Qualitative Forecasts
Time Series Forecasting
Simple Linear Regression
Correlation
Multiple Regression
Seasonal Adjustments
Accuracy of Forecast
14. Marketing Report Preparation
15. Ethics in Marketing Research
1. Understanding Consumer Behaviour
Consumer Behaviour and Marketing Strategy
2. Motivation, Ability and Opportunity
Consumer Motivation
Consumer Ability
Consumer Opportunity
3. Perception and Comprehension
Perception
Comprehension
Sensory Marketing
4. Memory, Knowledge and Learning
Memory
Memory Enhancement Techniques
Knowledge Content
Knowledge Structure
Knowledge Flexibility
Memory and Retrieval
Learning
5. High and Low Effort based Attitudes
Attitudes
Attitudes based on High Efforts
Attitudes Based on Low Efforts
Theories of Attitudes
Changing Attitudes
6. Process of Making Decisions
Problem Recognition
Information Search
Choosing among alternatives
High Effort Judgment and Decision Making
Low Effort Judgment and Decision Making
Purchase Decisions
Consumer Problems
Organizational Buying Decisions
7. Post-Decision Processes
Model of Learning from Consumer Experience
Satisfaction or Dissatisfaction Judgments
Satisfaction or Dissatisfaction based on Feelings
Responses to Dissatisfaction
Disposition
8. Social Influences and Consumer Diversity
Social Influences
Social Power and Group Influences
Reference Groups
Consumer Socialization
Normative and Informational Influence
Consumer Diversity
Household and Social Class Influences
9. Psychographics Components
Values
Personality
Lifestyles
10. Innovations, Adoption, Resistance and Diffusion
Classification of Innovations
Resistance versus Adoption
Diffusion
Influences on Adoption, Resistance, and Diffusion
Fashion System
11. Symbolic Consumer Behaviour
Emblematic Function
Role Acquisition Function
Connectedness Function
Expressiveness Function
Special Brands and Possessions
Gift Giving
12. Fundamentals of Economics
Demand and Supply analysis
Consumer Behaviour
Production Theory
Market Structure
1. Introducing Digital Marketing
Digital Marketing
Characteristics of Digital Media
e-Commerce and e-Business
Benefits of Digital Media
Challenges of Digital Communications
2. Analysis of Environment
Situation Analysis
Customer Analysis
Consumer Buying Process
Competitor Analysis
Channel Structure
Business Model
Revenue Models
Macro Environment
Legal and Ethical Environment
3. Digital Marketing Strategy
Strategy Formulation
Online Revenue Contribution
Strategy Implementation and Control
4. Digital Marketing and Marketing Mix
Product
Price
Place
Promotion
People, Process, and Physical evidence
5. Customer Relationship Management
Customer Lifecycle Management
6. Customer Experience
Website Development Process
Analysis and Design of Website
Development and Testing
Service Quality
7. Digital Campaign Planning
Digital Marketing Campaigns
8. Marketing Communications
Steps of Online advertising
Search Engine Marketing
Search Engine Optimisation
Paid Search Marketing
Display Advertising
Online Public Relations
Affiliate Marketing
Email Marketing
Mobile Marketing
Social Media Marketing
Offline Promotion Techniques
9. Evaluation of Digital Marketing
Web Analytics
Google Analytics
10. Emerging Technologies
Cloud Computing
Artificial Intelligence
Expert Systems
Fuzzy Logic
Neural Network
Big Data
Blockchain and Bitcoins
Contact Us
Email: contact@humanperitus.com
Phone: 9717781110
Address: Human Peritus, Floor 5, Building C, Unitech Cyber Park, Gurgaon, 122002
Syllabus of IBPS SO Marketing
Study Material & Coaching Classes
FAQs- IBPS SO Marketing exam
For SO Marketing exam, the IBPS has never disclosed any syllabus. Further the IBPS never releases the question paper after exam.
So how do we decide the boundary of the syllabus, if we have neither the syllabus nor any previous papers?
We, at Human Peritus, have been analysing questions every year (memory based by speaking to our students). Usually there is a perception that reading only Kotler is sufficient. This is wrong perception. Only 60% paper from the Kotler and remaining 40% is from other books.
Now, even for this 60% portion, which edition of Kotler should we refer to? There is a significant difference between 14th edition of Kotler and 16th edition of Kotler. Usually, we read the latest edition, but questions do appear from previous editions too. Not only that, there is also significant difference between Indian edition and USA edition of Kotler. The questions are coming from anywhere.
Based on analysis of previous years’ papers, we came to the conclusion, the syllabus of IBPS SO Marketing is composed of following sub-topics:
1. Marketing Management ( go through at least 2 editions of Kotler)
2. Marketing Research
3. Strategic Management
4. Digital Marketing
5. Consumer Behaviour
6. Smaller topics like Forecasting Methods, Logos and Taglines, Market Structures etc
Although you will find mention of 2 to 6 in Kotler, but required level of depth is more than Kotler. You need to refer separate books for them.
We have designed our course based on above mentioned analysis. This has worked well for our students till now and we are quite confident that it will work in Jan 2023 also.
Questions from all areas of Marketing Like Strategy, STP, Pricing, Product, Promotion Mix, Distribution, Services Marketing, Brand Management etc.
BCG Matrix
Pricing Strategies
Customer Loyalty Ranking
Dettol from which company
Taglines of Banks and other big companies
Google India Marketing leadership team
Patanjali products
Blue Ocean
Demarketing, Societal marketing, Customer reference to products, brand equity, Marketing Mix, Customer perceived value, lifetime value, Channel conflicts, Mergers/Acquisition, Micro marketing, Micro-environment, Supply Chain, Product stakeholders, Mission/vision, BCG matrix.
Surprisingly the questions were also on succession planning, fringe benefits, halo effects (which are HR topics). Similarly questions were from capital budgeting, Fixed costs (Financial Management). Questions were from Linear Regression, Variance (although these are from Stats, but we can also consider them under Demand Forecasting topic of Marketing). Thus, we see that the exam is going beyond traditional marketing topics.
There are 3 exciting things about this Online Question Bank of 2500 Questions:
First, (and this is Super Exciting), each question has a detailed explanation. You will not need to refer back to any book. You will be able to understand full concept, while doing question. Check Out some sample questions and the way we write explanations.
Second, Questions are bucketed topics wise. For example, you will get 80 questions on STP, 120 Questions on Pricing, 35 Questions on International marketing etc. Thus you can practice only those topics, where you feel the need.
Third, we have prepared these Questions after analyzing multiple editions of Kotler, to ensure maximum coverage.
Some of the reasons, why you should consider us are:
- Human Peritus is “uniquely positioned” to assist you for the IBPS SO Marketing exam. We have been trusted guide to students for last 10 years for various Management and Commerce exams based exams like IBPS, UPSC Civil Services (Management Optional), UGC NET Management, UPSC EPFO, HR officer with Banks and PSUs etc.
- We do not just teach, we take responsibility for the outcome. After every exam, we analyze, how many questions came from our course. We publish this analysis on the website. Then we improve our course. Then again analyze after the next next exam and improve the course..and so on….By doing it over the years, we have reached a stage, where consistently more than 80-90% of questions are from our course.
- We have consistently maintained a high quality of teaching in video classes. The classes are not just 30,000 feet overview, but with detailed conceptual understanding. Do not just believe us. Take some trial classes with others. Then check our classes. Compare the style and quality of teaching. You may also check few recorded classes in the middle of this page.
- Not only we teach well, we also take responsibility, if it is sufficient from coverage point of view. With us, you need not study any other book. You also need not look at previous papers. Not even current affairs. Nothing else. You are unlikely to get this confidence of “depend completely on us”, anywhere else.
- And yes, thousands of students have realized their dreams with Human Peritus since the year 2011. You can check video interviews of hundreds of them by clicking here.
Since the inception in 2011, our preparation approach has been quite traditional. First, we do a lot of research in analyzing the “boundary” of the syllabus. Then within that boundary, we provide “maximum possible coverage” of concepts. What we do not do, is to try to find out what is more important or less important within that boundary. We study everything like a dedicated student.
We believe that there is no one, who can guess important questions in objective exams (yes, we can identify some most repeating concepts; but is that sufficient for securing a seat?….NO). The only way to crack Coal India exam is to cover the full syllabus within boundary >> Then practice a lot of questions from that topic>> and you are ready for that topic. So, if you are enrolling with Human Peritus with the hope that, we know important questions, which will come in the exam, DO NOT JOIN US.
Second thing, the preparation takes time. We do not have any magical formula to cover everything in 10 days. We never conduct the crash courses, because we believe that you cannot cover 100% syllabus in a crash course. We make a plan >> we follow the plan >> we expect you to do what we advise you >> and you are ready for the exam. If you do not have time and patience, DO NOT JOIN US.
Third thing, we are enablers in the preparation. We do many things to make it easier for you like bring conceptual clarity, make content concise for you, assure 100% coverage, make you practice questions, sometimes even motivate and guide you. But all this is waste if you do not put in the hard work. DO NOT JOIN US, if you are not ready to work hard for the next 1-2 months.
From a coverage point of view, the Study Material will give you 100% coverage, but the probability of selection is much higher (4 times) in video classes program, because of the following reasons:
(i) a Large number of topics require conceptual clarity, which will need a teacher to make it easier.
(ii) With tips and tricks, the teacher makes it easier to remember.
(iii) If it takes x hours to prepare without a teacher, then it will take only 0.4x hours with a teacher. Since time for IBPS HR exam is limited, you need someone to make it quicker for you.
(iv) You get into discipline because now someone else is pushing you towards completion of the syllabus (this is the biggest contributor)
(v) While teaching, the teacher explains how questions are framed from a given topic.
