Explain the major activities involved in the physical distribution of products.
The physical handling and movement of goods from place of production to the place of distribution, is called physical distribution. It covers all the activities required to physically move the goods from the manufacturing to the customers.
The major activities involved in the physical distribution of products are:
Order processing: A good physical distribution system should provide for an accurate and speedy processing of orders. In the absence of this, goods would reach the customers in wrong quality or quantity, resulting in dissatisfaction of customers.
Transportation: It means carrying raw materials and finished goods from one place to another. It helps in creating ‘place utility’, by making available the goods where they are required.
Warehousing: It refers to the act of storing and assorting products in order to create ‘time utility’. It helps in proper placement of goods and providing facilities to store them, so that they can be made available as and when demanded by the market.
Inventory control: An important decision in physical distribution is deciding about the level of inventory. Higher the level of inventory, higher will be level of service and cost of carrying the inventory and vice-versa. Various factors which are considered for determining inventory levels are:
i. Firms’ policy regarding level of customer service.
ii. Degree of accuracy of sales forecast.
iii. Responsiveness of distribution system.
iv. Cost of holding inventory.
A good inventory decision aims at timely fulfillment of demand at minimum cost.
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.)
What is marketing mix? What are its main elements? Explain.
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.
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?
Explain the various types of plans used in management.
What is working capital? Discuss five important determinants of working capital requirement?
Explain any three principles of Directing.
Sunrises Ltd. dealing in readymade garments, is planning to expand its business operations in order to cater to international market. For this purpose the company needs additional ₹ 80,00,000 for replacing machines with modern machinery of higher production capacity. The company wishes to raise the required funds by issuing debentures. The debt can be issued at an estimated cost of 10%. The EBIT for the previous year of the company was ₹ 8,00,000 and total capital investment was ₹ 1,00,00,000. Suggest whether issue of debenture would be considered a rational decision by the company. Give reason to justify your answer. (Ans. No, Cost of Debt (10%) is more than ROI which is 8%).
Can a large sized organisation be totally centralised of decentralised? Give your opinion.
Why is recruitment an important step in staffing?
What is the meaning of staffing?
Explain the redressal mechanism available to consumers under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986.
In an attempt to cope with Reliance Jio’s onslaught in 2018, market leader Bharti Airtel has refreshed its ₹ 149 prepaid plan to offer 2 GB of 3G/4G data per day, twice the amount it offered earlier. Name the type of plan is highlighted in the given example. ? State its three dimensions also.
If planning involves working out details for the future, why does it not ensure success?