Sales Management
1. What are the pros and cons of Mr. Evans’s e-commerce strategy? What is the best argument that Ms. Miko can make to keep her sales force intact? In your opinion, should Cardinal Connectors Inc. eliminate its sales force? Explain.
2. Assume your company, which sells paper products, has 60 percent of the business at your largest account. What factors would make it relatively easy for you to get a larger share of that customer’s business, and what factors would make it harder?
3. One manufacturer of dictating machines recruits only experienced people and does not recruit among graduating college students. A competitor recruits extensively among colleges in its search for salespeople. How do you account for the difference in sources used by firms selling essentially the same products? Explain your analysis in detail.
4. A manufacturer of small aircraft, designed for executive transportation of large companies, has decided to implement the concept of a selling center. Which people in this company should be on the selling teams? What problems is this firm likely to encounter when it uses team selling?
5. You must choose between two sales recruits. One has scored very high in terms of the quality of his interview, but not very well on the series of psychological tests to predict qualities the firm thinks are necessary for success. Another person did well on the psychological testing, but not very well in the personal interview. All other things being equal, which one would you hire, and why? What do you think the strengths and weaknesses would be of the one you hired?
6. “Salespeople are born, not made. It’s futile to try to train a person to be a salesperson, so I don’t.” How would you answer a sales manager who said this to you if you were trying to get her or him to hire you as a sales trainer?
7. In what respects would a compensation plan differ among salespeople for the following firms? a) the manufacturer of small airplanes used by executives;
2. Assume your company, which sells paper products, has 60 percent of the business at your largest account. What factors would make it relatively easy for you to get a larger share of that customer’s business, and what factors would make it harder?
3. One manufacturer of dictating machines recruits only experienced people and does not recruit among graduating college students. A competitor recruits extensively among colleges in its search for salespeople. How do you account for the difference in sources used by firms selling essentially the same products? Explain your analysis in detail.
4. A manufacturer of small aircraft, designed for executive transportation of large companies, has decided to implement the concept of a selling center. Which people in this company should be on the selling teams? What problems is this firm likely to encounter when it uses team selling?
5. You must choose between two sales recruits. One has scored very high in terms of the quality of his interview, but not very well on the series of psychological tests to predict qualities the firm thinks are necessary for success. Another person did well on the psychological testing, but not very well in the personal interview. All other things being equal, which one would you hire, and why? What do you think the strengths and weaknesses would be of the one you hired?
6. “Salespeople are born, not made. It’s futile to try to train a person to be a salesperson, so I don’t.” How would you answer a sales manager who said this to you if you were trying to get her or him to hire you as a sales trainer?
7. In what respects would a compensation plan differ among salespeople for the following firms? a) the manufacturer of small airplanes used by executives;