Making Marketing Principles Tangible: Online Auctions as Living Case Studies

This article presents an effective course supplement for Principles of Marketing classes. An experiential project involving online auctions is offered to instructors seeking to create a more participatory student environment and an interactive teaching style. A number of learning points are illustrated that allow instructors to use an auction project to illustrate specific Principles of Marketing concepts as a living case study. Emphasis in the present context is given to the illustration of the marketing mix, consumer behavior, ethics, e-marketing, and marketing research topics. An example for more advanced purposes is also provided.