In: Operations Management
Think of a recent purchase you made in your everyday life. Explain how the purchasing process would be different if you were buying the same product for a firm on a regular basis versus purchasing it for yourself.
Please write clear complete sentences and answer the question with great detail.
The purchasing process of the consumer is very different from the the purchasing process of a firm. The basic difference lies in needs. Recently I have purchased a chair. They differs on need and purpose. Customers needs product mainly for final consumption while organization needs the product mostly for use in business or to resell it. Customer are driven by both need and want while organization mostly focuses on needs.
There are possible chances to attract or influence a consumer to purchase our product although he doesn't needs that product through various marketing strategies. But it is quite difficult to include organization to buy unnecessary products. It becomes more difficult when we are dealing with purchasing department that has the responsibility of purchase and spendings.
. Another basis of difference in purchasing process could be quantity. Mostly organization purchase the product in bulk quantity. For example I need one chair so i will purchase only one but organization deals in bulk due to their requirements.
Consumers exercises more freedom of choice in selecting the product they want and have various reasons to purchase. As they can purchase a chair so he can sit comfortably in his home. He will be able to choose any chair within his budget that he likes ..On the other hand a organization purchase the chair for their employees to sit and perform their duty. The choice of organization will be limited by budget as well as safety guidelines regarding office furniture.
Consumers buy goods to use for themselves, or as a gift for someone else. What this means is that consumers are free to purchase for personal use, and that is what they do.
This shows consumers by in a smaller quantities as per their individual, and immediate needs.
Mostly organization have to follow certain rules , regulations and company guidelines while making a purchase which involves a lenthy process .
. The most important element to understand in this buying process of organization is the complexity in decision making. Organisations have massive networks of decision makers that need to approve the purchase. It involves various sanctions and approvals form various departments including budget.