Question

Six Mark Question:-
Explain the following functions of marketing:
(i) Gathering and analysing market information;
(ii) Market planning;
(iii) Product designing and development;
(iv) Customer support services.

Answer 1

(i) One of the important functions of a marketer is to gather and analyse market information. This is necessary to identify the needs of the customers and take various decisions for the successful marketing of the products and services. This is important for making an analysis of the available opportunities and threats as well as strengths and weaknesses of the organisation and help in deciding what opportunities can best be pursued by it. For example, rapid growth is predicted in several areas in the Indian economy, say in the use of internet, market for Cell phones and several other areas. Which of these areas a particular organisation should enter or in which area should it expand requires a careful scanning of the strengths and, weaknesses of the organisation, which is done with the help of careful market analysis.

(ii) Another important activity or area of work of a marketer is to develop appropriate marketing plans so that the marketing objectives of the organisation can be achieved. For example a marketer of colour TVs, having 10 per cent of the current market share in the country aims at enhancing his market share to 20 per cent, in the next three years. He will have to develop a complete marketing plan covering various important aspects including the plan for increasing the level of production, promotion of the products, etc. and specify the action programmes to achieve these objectives.

(iii) Another important marketing activity or decision area relates to product designing and development. The design of the product contributes to making the product attractive to the target customers. A good design can improve performance of a product and also give it a competitive advantage in the market. For example, when we plan to buy any product say a motorbike, we not only see its features like cost, mileage, etc. but also the design aspects like its shape, style, etc.
(iv) A very important function of the marketing management relates to developing customer support services such as after sales services, handling customer complaints and adjustments, procuring credit services, maintenance services, technical services and consumer information. All these services aim at providing maximum satisfaction to the customers, which is the key to marketing success in modern days. Customer support services prove very effective in bringing repeat sales from the customers and developing brand loyality for a product.