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There are 4 modules in this course
How much should you charge for your products and services? Traditionally, businesses have answered this question based on the cost to produce or provide their goods and services. This course shows you the economic factors behind pricing based on cost and the pros and cons of a cost-based pricing approach. Developed at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, and led by top-ranked Darden faculty and Boston Consulting Group global pricing experts, the course provides the practical and research-based models and methods you need to set prices that maximize your profits.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
--Apply knowledge of basic economics to make better pricing decisions
--Recognize opportunities for price discrimination—selling the same product at different prices to different buyers—and recommend strategies to maximize sales and profits
--Calculate three types of price elasticities to determine the impact of price on demand
--Analyze and apply different pricing models
-Cost-plus pricing
-Marginal cost-plus pricing
-Peak-load pricing
-Index-based pricing
--Evaluate the impact of channel intermediaries and customer lifetime value on pricing
Welcome to the first week of Cost and Economics in Pricing Strategy course! We'll begin our study of pricing by looking at some basic economic principles relevant to pricing, such as cost and cost variations and what that implies about the supply curve. Then we'll take a closer look at one pricing mechanism: auctions. You will never look at eBay the same!
Basic Metrics of Pricing: Margins and Markups•6 minutes
The Relationship Between Price and Quantity: Demand Schedules•5 minutes
The Relationship between Price and Quantity: Functional Form•5 minutes
Cost, Cost Variations and Supply Curves•5 minutes
Auctions as a Pricing Mechanism•3 minutes
English Auctions•3 minutes
Dutch Auctions•3 minutes
Sealed Bid Auctions•6 minutes
B2B Auctions•8 minutes
Module 1 Takeaways•1 minute
4 readings•Total 40 minutes
Course Overview & Requirements•10 minutes
Survey•10 minutes
Using Discussion Forums to Deepen Your Learning•10 minutes
Top Ten Learner Tips•10 minutes
3 assignments•Total 66 minutes
Practice Quiz on Basic Economics•18 minutes
Practice Quiz on Auctions•12 minutes
Week 1 Pricing Fundamentals Quiz•36 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
Meet and Greet•10 minutes
Price Discrimination
Module 2•2 hours to complete
Module details
This week we'll tackle three areas that will help you improve the effectiveness of your pricing strategy. First, we'll take a look at price discrimination and how to set prices for different customer segments to maximize profits. You'll learn about the price and margin waterfall and how creating one for your business can help identify "leaks" that you can prevent. Then we'll examine volume-based pricing, or pricing differently for different volumes to encourage consumption, of a consumer product: Heinz Ketchup. When we're done, you'll be very aware of the impact package size has on your own consumption--and how to use this knowledge to price products.
What's included
12 videos1 reading4 assignments
Show info about module content
12 videos•Total 40 minutes
Intro to Price Discrimination•2 minutes
Cost-plus Pricing•5 minutes
Price Discrimination Based on Cost Variation•5 minutes
Price and Margin Waterfall•5 minutes
Product Line Pricing Principles•4 minutes
Product Line Pricing: Paper Towels•6 minutes
Product Line Pricing: Ketchup•5 minutes
Product Line Pricing: Principle 3•1 minute
Other Incentives That Lower Costs•3 minutes
Field Trip to Kroger's Ketchup Aisle: The Heinz Case•2 minutes
Heinz Case Debrief•1 minute
Module 2 Takeaways•1 minute
1 reading•Total 15 minutes
Case Study: Heinz Ketchup: Pricing the Product Line•15 minutes
4 assignments•Total 80 minutes
Practice Quiz on Cost-plus Pricing•15 minutes
Practice Quiz on Product Line Pricing•15 minutes
Quiz on the Heinz Case•20 minutes
Week 2 Quiz on Price Discrimination•30 minutes
Common Pricing Metrics: Elasticities
Module 3•2 hours to complete
Module details
This week we'll dive deep into the world of demand modeling. We'll start with a brief overview of regressions--what they are, why they're useful and how to calculate them using Excel. Then you'll get a chance to use regressions as you learn about three types of elasticities--relationships between demand and price or other factors--and the drivers of these elasticities. We'll finish with a price optimization based on demand models--a truly useful method for pricing based on economic factors. By the end of this week, you'll be able to impress your colleagues and friends with your knowledge of mathematical models and how to use them to inform your pricing strategy!
What's included
13 videos3 assignments
Show info about module content
13 videos•Total 67 minutes
Intro to Common Pricing Metrics/Elasticities•2 minutes
Calculating Regressions•10 minutes
Interpreting Regression Outputs•6 minutes
Price Elasticities•9 minutes
Cross-Price Elasticity•7 minutes
Income Elasticity•5 minutes
Drivers of Price Elasticity•3 minutes
Drivers of Price Elasticity: Market Share•4 minutes
Drivers of Price Elasticity: Competitors' Prices•5 minutes
Calculus: Taking a Derivative•4 minutes
Price Optimization Considering Demand•8 minutes
Price Optimization Example•4 minutes
Module 3 Takeaways•1 minute
3 assignments•Total 57 minutes
Practice Quiz: Regressions•12 minutes
Practice Quiz on Price Elasticities•15 minutes
Week 3 Quiz on Price Elasticities•30 minutes
Channel and Direct-to-Consumer Pricing
Module 4•5 hours to complete
Module details
Welcome to our final week together in this course! We'll finish by discussing key concepts related to channel pricing--or pricing through the supply chain. You'll learn about double-marginalization, time value of money, and customer lifetime value (CLV)--not only what they are, but how to use them to improve pricing decisions. Then we'll show you three different pricing techniques that you can use to improve direct-to-consumer pricing. You'll finish with a real-world case analysis of Retail Relay, an online grocery ordering and delivery service. You'll be able to recommend a viable approach to their pricing dilemma based on knowledge from this course. Enjoy!
A premier institution of higher education, The University of Virginia offers outstanding academics, world-class faculty, and an inspiring, supportive environment. Founded by Thomas Jefferson in 1819, the University is guided by his vision of discovery, innovation, and development of the full potential of students from all walks of life. Through these courses, global learners have an opportunity to study with renowned scholars and thought leaders.
Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a global management consulting firm and the world’s leading advisor on business strategy.
We partner with clients from the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors in all regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their enterprises. Our customized approach combines deep insight into the dynamics of companies and markets with close collaboration at all levels of the client organization. This ensures that our clients achieve sustainable competitive advantage, build more capable organizations, and secure lasting results. Founded in 1963, BCG is a private company with offices in more than 90 cities in 50 countries. For more information, please visit bcg.com.
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Learner reviews
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694 reviews
5 stars
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Showing 3 of 694
S
SM
4·
Reviewed on Mar 10, 2018
A good course but there were places where I felt things weren't clearly explained. Also, the quiz questions were sometimes somewhat ambiguous.
C
CA
5·
Reviewed on Jul 6, 2019
All you need to understand about calculations and economics regarding pricing is explained, in detail, using clear examples and with great material to feel satisfied about complex information.
G
GZ
5·
Reviewed on Feb 20, 2019
Excellent overview of economics in pricing strategy.Great deal of practical work. Very applicable to real life scenarios.
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