Final answer:
Susan Sharpe is at the gathering information stage of market research, where she collects information from published data and people with experience. This stage helps her identify the root cause of the problem and develop an effective marketing strategy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Susan Sharpe, the vice president of marketing, is at the stage of gathering information about the problem from published data and people with experience with the problem. This stage is called the gathering information stage of market research.
During this stage, Susan collects information by consulting experts and interviewing people who have direct experience with the problem. She may also gather information from various sources such as books, research, and data to gain a better understanding of the problem.
By conducting interviews and gathering information from relevant sources, Susan is able to identify the root cause of the problem and gain valuable insights to develop an effective marketing strategy.