IPA IP 2025 Question 35
A question IPA Japan published in 令和7年度 ITパスポート試験 公開問題 問35, translated into English. ITPEC is based on the same exams.
Among the processes of formulating a marketing strategy, which of the following clarifies the points of differentiation of the company’s own products?
Explanation
Positioning — the step of a marketing strategy that decides how the company's product is to stand apart from competitors' in the minds of the target customers.
A marketing strategy is often drawn up in the STP order:
- •Segmentation: dividing the market into groups of customers with similar needs or attributes
- •Targeting: choosing the segments the company will serve
- •Positioning: making clear the company's points of differentiation in the chosen segments, often by plotting its products and competitors' on a positioning map
The marketing mix (4P: product, price, place, promotion) is then designed to deliver that position.
Answer (d)
Why not others:
- •(a) Segmentation — divides the market into segments; it does not yet say how the product differs
- •(b) Targeting — selects which segments to aim at
- •(c) Promotion — one of the 4P, the communication (advertising, sales promotion) that carries out the strategy, not the step that defines differentiation
Key rule: STP = Segment the market, Target segments, Position the product by its differentiation; the 4P then implement the position.
Business Strategy Management · AI-written, may contain errors
This question comes from the past questions IPA Japan publishes, translated into English by ITPEC Practice. ITPEC Practice is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with IPA or ITPEC. See the original paper (PDF) or Report an issue.