What is marketing mix? What are its main elements? Explain.
Marketing management decisions are based on a number of controllable and non-controllable factors.
Controllable factors are those which can be influenced at the level of the firm. E.g. price of the product, packaging decision, physical distribution, etc. However, there are certain factors which are beyond the control of the firm.
These are called non-controllable factors or environmental factors. E.g. rate of inflation, credit policy of banks, competition, etc.
Therefore, controllable variables become marketing tools, which are constantly shaped and reshaped by marketing managers to achieve marketing objectives.
The combination of variables chosen by a firm to prepare its market offering, is called marketing mix. The main components of marketing mix consist of the four P’s, viz product, price, place and promotion.
Elements of Marketing Mix are:
Product: Product means goods or services or ‘anything of value’ which is offered to the market for sale. It is a mixture of tangible and intangible attributes, which are capable of being exchanged for value.
From the customer’s point of view, a product is a bundle of utility as it provides three types of benefits to the consumers that are Functional benefits, Psychological benefits and social benefits. It also includes the extended product or what is offered to the customer as after sales services, handling complaints, credit services, etc.
The product mix refers to important decisions related to the product such as quality of product, design of product, packaging, etc.
Price: Price of a product refers to the amount of money that the customer has to pay in the market to obtain the product. The marketers have to take a number of decisions regarding price level, pricing strategy, pricing objectives, discounts, etc, together known as price mix.
Place: Place or physical distribution covers all the activities required to physically move the goods from manufactures to customers.
The two major decision areas under this function are:
i. Decision regarding channels of distribution.
ii. Physical movement of goods from the place where it is produced to the place of consumption.
Promotion: Promotion refers to the process of informing the customers about the product and then persuading them to buy it. Most marketing firms use a combination of advertising sales promotion, personal selling, and public relations to promote their products.
Therefore, the combination of any of these techniques to attain the marketing objectives is called promotion mix.
What are the factors affecting determination of the price of a product or service? Explain.
A marketer of colour TV having 20% of the current market share of the country aims at enhancing the market share to 50 per cent in next three years. For achieving this objective he specified an action programme. Name the function of marketing being discussed above. (Ans. Marketing planning.)
For buyers of consumer durable products, what ‘customer care services’ would you plan as a manager of a firm marketing new brand of motorcycle. Discuss.
How does branding help in differential pricing?
Distinguish between convenience product and shopping product.
Discuss the role of intermediaries in the distribution of consumer non-durable products.
What are industrial products? How are they different from consumer products? Explain.
What information is generally placed on the package of a food product? Design a label for one of the food products of your choice.
Product is a bundle of utilities. Explain.
Discuss the role of ‘sales promotion’ as an element of promotion mix.
How does planning provide direction?
What is meant by staffing?
Identify the network of social relationships which arises spontaneously due to interaction at work.
What is informal communication?
State the meaning of controlling.
What is meant by capital structure?v
What is meant by management?
What is a Treasury Bill?
What makes principles of management flexible?
Under which consumer right does a business firm set up consumer grievance cell?
Discuss the importance of training for both employees and organizations.
‘Bhasin’ limited was engaged in the business of food processing and selling its products under a popular brand. Lately the business was expanding due to good quality and reasonable prices. Also with more people working the market for processed food was increasing. New players were also coming to cash in on the new trend. In order to keep its market share in the short run the company directed its existing workforce to work overtime. But this resulted in many problems. Due to increased pressure of work the efficiency of the workers declined. Sometimes the subordinates had to work for more than one superior resulting in declining efficiency. The divisions that were previously working on one product were also made to work on two or more products. This resulted in a lot of overlapping and wastage. The workers were becoming indisciplined. The spirit of teamwork, which had characterized the company, previously was beginning to wane. Workers were feeling cheated and initiative was declining. The quality of the products was beginning to decline and market share was on the verge of decrease. Actually the company had implemented changes without creating the required infrastructure.
a. Identify the Principles of Management (out of 14 given by Henry Fayol) that were being violated by the company.
b. Explain these principles in brief.
c. What steps should the company management take in relation to the above principles to restore the company to its past glory?
Explain Taylor’s concept of 'Mental Revolution' and its relevance today.
The workers always try to show their inability when any new work is given to them. They are always unwilling to take up any kind of work. Due to sudden rise in demand a firm wants to meet excess orders. The supervisor is finding it difficult to cope up with the situation. State the element of directing that can help the supervisor in handling the problem.
The workers of a factory are unable to work on new machines and always demand for help of supervisor. The Supervisor is overburdened with their frequent calls. Suggest the remedy. (Hint: training)
Why it is important for business enterprises to understand their environment? Explain.
State the different networks of grapevine communications.
What is meant by business environment?
Explain the procedure for selection of employees.