The Market Research Process –

The Market Research Process –

South-central Foundation (SCF)

Eric Tompkins

Dr. Mountasser Kadrie

MSA 505 - Health Services Planning and Management

18 August 2012

Strayer University

The process of marketing research is based on multiple facets or steps involving the

systematic collection of consumer information or data that will assist an organization in

identifying specific problems or issues to consumers (Berkowitz, 2011). This paper will analyze

the marketing research process used in South-central Foundation (SCF) based out of. SCF is an

Alaska Native nonprofit health care organization founded in 1982 by Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (

CIRI). CIRI is one of 13 Alaska Native regional organizations formed by Congress in 1971. SCF

was established to advance the health and social situations of Alaska Native people, improve

culture, and inspire individuals and families to empower their lives. SCF offers an extensive

variety of health and human services to Alaska Native and American Indian (AN/AI) citizens

living in south central Alaska. Generally, services are offered prepaid, based on legislative

contracts and funding requirements, to members of the 229 federally acknowledged tribes in

Alaska. Revenue sources consist of federal, state, and local government agencies as well as

private foundations and third- party payers. While overseeing practically two decades of

exponential development, including raising the workforce from less than 100 to roughly 1,400

employees and the operational budget from $3 million to $200 million, SCF has set itself apart as

one of the nation’s principal health care organizations. SCF invites guests from around the U.S.

and the globe, including delegates from more than 20 Indian Health Service sites, Oregon,

Canada, Washington, California, Hawaii, England, Scotland, Norway, Sweden, Russia, China

and Mongolia, who come to study facts and learn about SCF’s...