Brands and brand management are increasingly important for organisations in almost every industry. In many sectors, as products become increasingly similar, organisations are turning to branding as a way to differentiate their offerings and create customer preferences for them. In the modern world, branding goes well beyond the consumer goods markets, and is just as relevant to sporting teams, musicians, national parks and religions. In markets where competition is multifaceted, brands are valuable assets in developing effective marketing strategies and competitive advantage. Brands and brand equity need to be recognized as strategic assets and the basis of competitive advantage and long-term profitability. The focus of this unit is on developing students knowledge and skills to be able to develop and manage brands. The unit first builds the theoretical foundations that are needed to understand brands and brand management. It then investigates key aspects of brand management, such as the measurement of brand performance and brand equity. Students will learn how to plan and apply skills to develop and manage brands. They will also develop a critical understanding of the issues surrounding the planning and evaluating of brand strategies. The final sections of the unit focusses on contemporary issues that are particularly important for branding practice.