Unit Iii
Unit Iii
Unit Iii
Product
Decision
Unit III : Product decision
Meaning and importance; Product classification;
SYLLABUS Concept of product mix; Branding, Packaging and
Labeling; After-sales service; Product life-cycle;
New product development.
WHAT IS A PRODUCT?
1) Consumer Products: Consumer products are products that the ultimate consumer
purchases himself for direct use. The consumer purchases these consumer products to
satisfy his personal needs and desires.
a) Convenience Products:
These are consumer goods that are very convenient to purchase. They are bought
frequently and with very little effort. Such convenience products have ongoing and
continuous demand. Such goods are also bought in small quantities and are also
generally lowly priced. Toothpaste
b) Shopping Products:
To shop for these consumer products, consumers devote considerable time and effort.
They compare prices and features, and a lot of thought is involved before making the
decision to buy. These products generally fall in the higher price range. Such products
are pre-planned purchases. Television
TYPES OF PRODUCT
c) Specialty Products:
For specialty products, consumers make special efforts to buy them. They are
not your regular run of the mill consumer products. The buyer is willing to
go through a lot of effort to purchase such products. The demand for such
specialty products is usually limited and the prices are high. Luxury Watches
d) Unsought product:
It is consumer products that the consumer either does not know about or
knows about but does not normally think of buying. Insurance
2) Industrial Products: These are products
which are used as input for manufacturing
other products. Unlike consumer goods,
these are not for direct consumption. These
are meant for business and non-personal
use.
Core Benefit: Why a customer purchases a product?
It represents the fundamental need or want that the product fulfills.
Example, the core benefit of a smartphone is communication and
connectivity.
Generic Product: The second level is the generic product, which refers to
the basic features and functions that the product provides.
A version of the product containing only those attributes or characteristics
necessary for it to function.
For the smartphone example, the generic product includes features like a
touchscreen, camera, and internet access.
Intangible Goods: Products that lack physical presence but provide value.
APPLE'S iPad Series: iPad Pro, iPad Air, and iPad Mini.
Apple Watch Series: Apple Watch Series 7, Apple Watch SE.
PRODUCT MIX Services: Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade.
Accessories: AirPods, AirPods Pro, MagSafe accessories.
Mac Software and Operating Systems: macOS, Final Cut Pro,
Logic Pro.
CHALLENGES IN MANAGING A PRODUCT MIX
Down-market Extension:
In a down-market extension, a company introduces a more affordable or lower-
priced version of its existing product. This extension aims to capture a segment of
the market that is price-sensitive and looking for budget-friendly options.
Example: Apple iPhone SE, Maruti Suzuki Alto, Tata Nano
Up-market Extension:
An upmarket extension involves introducing a higher-priced or premium version of
an existing product. This extension targets consumers who are willing to pay more
for enhanced features, quality, or exclusivity.
Example: Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series, Tanishq Diamond Jewelry, Royal
Enfield Classic 350
Flavor or Ingredient Size or Packaging Health or Nutritional Dietary or Lifestyle
Variation: Lay's Potato Variation: Coca-Cola Variation: Special K Variation: Gluten-Free
Chips Flavors: Mini Cans: Cereal: Low-Fat Bread Varieties:
Version:
Videocon Electronics: Videocon, an Indian consumer electronics company, phased out its
television manufacturing division as it faced financial difficulties and increased competition.
HMT Watches: HMT Watches, a well-known Indian watch brand, discontinued several watch
models as demand declined with the rise of digital watches and smartphones.
Nescafé Ready-to-Drink Coffee in India: Nestlé discontinued some of its Nescafé ready-to-
drink coffee products in India due to competitive pressures and changing consumer
preferences
Bajaj Chetak Scooters: Bajaj Auto, a leading Indian two-wheeler manufacturer, phased out
its iconic Bajaj Chetak scooter as consumer preferences shifted towards motorcycles
PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE (PLC)
i. Introduction
ii. Growth
iii. Maturity
iv. Decline
PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE
CURVE
INTRODUCTION STAGE
Characteristics Strategies:
•Low sales and limited awareness. •Heavy promotion and advertising to
create awareness.
•High marketing and promotion
efforts. •Limited product variations to keep
costs manageable.
•High product development costs.
•Target early adopters and
•Few competitors. innovators.
•Potential losses. •Establish distribution channels and
partnerships.
GROWTH STAGE
Characteristics Strategies:
•Rapid sales growth. •Expand distribution to reach a wider
audience.
•Increasing consumer demand.
•Focus on product differentiation to
•Emergence of competitors. attract competitors' customers.
•Improving profitability. •Introduce product variations to cater to
•Expansion of distribution. different segments.
•Increase advertising to maintain
awareness and reinforce differentiation.
MATURITY STAGE
Characteristics Strategies:
•Slowing sales growth. •Differentiate the product through
branding, quality, or features.
•Saturated market.
•Offer promotions and discounts to
•Intense competition. maintain demand.
•Stable or declining profits. •Focus on cost efficiency to protect
•Focus on differentiation. margins.
•Target niche or underserved
segments.
•Expand into international markets.
DECLINE STAGE
Characteristics Strategies:
•Declining sales. •Reduce marketing expenses while
maintaining core customer base.
•Obsolescence or changing consumer
preferences. •Consider price reductions or clearance
sales to sell remaining inventory.
•Reduced profitability.
•Evaluate options for product
•Limited marketing efforts. diversification or extension.
•Potential product discontinuation. •Make decisions about discontinuation or
reinvention.
DIFFUSION OF INNOVATION
▪Diffusion of Innovation is a theory that explains how new ideas, products, or
technologies spread and are adopted by individuals and groups within a society.
▪Developed by Everett Rogers, this theory identifies the stages through which
innovation is adopted and diffused across different segments of the population.
The process involves several key elements:
Innovation: The new idea, product, or technology being introduced to the market.
Channels of Communication: The means by which information about the innovation
is disseminated to potential adopters.
Social System: The environment in which the innovation is being adopted, including
social networks, cultural norms, and existing technologies.
Time: The rate at which the innovation is adopted and diffused within the target
population.
ADOPTER
CATEGORIES
ADOPTER CATEGORIES, ALSO KNOWN AS
DIFFUSION OF INNOVATION SEGMENTS, ARE
CLASSIFICATIONS THAT CATEGORIZE INDIVIDUALS
BASED ON THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ADOPT NEW
PRODUCTS OR INNOVATIONS .
INNOVATORS
Characteristics: Innovators are the first to adopt a new product. They are risk-takers,
highly educated, and often have higher financial resources. They actively seek out and
embrace new ideas and technologies.
Marketing Strategy: Innovators are crucial for generating early product awareness and
creating a buzz. Marketing efforts should focus on highlighting the product's uniqueness,
advanced features, and benefits.
Early adopters of virtual reality technology who purchase the latest VR headsets and
applications.
EARLY ADOPTERS:
Characteristics: Early adopters follow the innovators and are also quick
to embrace new products. They have a higher social status, are opinion
leaders, and often have a strong influence on their peers' buying
decisions.
• The success rate of new products is very low – less than 5%. ‘You
have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince.”
• Product obsolescence is rapid with improvements in technology
• Shorter PLCs
NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS
Concept
Idea generation Idea screening Concept testing
developmen
t
Product
Business analysis Market testing Commercialization
development
The first stage of the new product development is the idea generation.
Ideas come from everywhere, can be of any form, and can be numerous.
This stage involves creating a large pool of ideas from various sources,
which include:
• Customer needs,
• Ongoing trends,
• Expected ROI,
• Affordability, etc.
The third step of the new product development includes concept
development and testing. A concept is a detailed strategy or
blueprint version of the idea. Basically, when an idea is
developed in every aspect so as to make it presentable, it is
CONCEPT called a concept.
DEVELOPMENT & All the ideas that pass the screening stage are
TESTING turned into concepts for testing purpose. Company never
launch a product without its concept being tested.
The testing results help the business in coming up with the
final concept to be developed into a product.
STRATEGY time for it to analyse and decide the marketing, branding, and
other business strategies that will be used. Estimated product
ANALYSIS & profitability, marketing mix, and other product strategies are
decided for the product.
DEVELOPMENT – Competition of the product
– Costs involved
– Pricing strategies
Idea Generation:
TechGear Inc. holds brainstorming sessions with its R&D, marketing, and design
teams to generate ideas for innovative wearable technology. They also gather
feedback from existing customers and study emerging trends in the wearables
market. As a result, they come up with the idea of creating a smartwatch that
combines health tracking, communication features, and sleek design.
Idea Screening:
The company evaluates several ideas and decides to focus on the smartwatch
concept due to its alignment with their vision, market demand, and technological
feasibility. Other ideas, like a smart coffee maker, are rejected as they don't fit
the company's expertise and strategic direction.
Concept Development and Testing:
TechGear Inc. develops detailed concepts for the smartwatch, outlining features such
as heart rate monitoring, customizable watch faces, call and message notifications,
and compatibility with various fitness apps. They create prototypes and conduct focus
groups with potential users to gather feedback on the concept. Feedback reveals a
strong interest in the health tracking capabilities and sleek design.
Business Analysis:
The company conducts a thorough analysis of the potential costs and revenues
associated with developing and launching the smartwatch. They estimate
manufacturing costs, marketing expenses, and pricing strategies. Based on market
research and competitive analysis, they project a strong demand for the smartwatch
among fitness enthusiasts and tech-savvy consumers.
Product Development:
TechGear Inc. begins the product development phase, engineering the hardware and
software components of the smartwatch. They design the user interface, develop the
health tracking algorithms, and ensure seamless integration with popular fitness apps.
Prototypes are rigorously tested for durability, performance, and user experience.
Market Testing:
The company selects a few key markets to conduct a soft launch of the smartwatch.
They release a limited quantity of the product in specific retail locations and online
platforms. Customer feedback is collected through surveys, reviews, and direct
interactions. Users appreciate the accurate health tracking features and user-friendly
interface, but some suggest improvements to battery life.
Commercialization:
With positive feedback from the market testing, TechGear Inc. proceeds to the
commercialization phase. They ramp up manufacturing, establish distribution channels,
and launch a comprehensive marketing campaign highlighting the smartwatch's health
benefits and sleek design. The smartwatch is officially launched in major markets, and
sales steadily increase over time.
Throughout the entire process, TechGear Inc.
maintains close collaboration between its
engineering, design, marketing, and sales teams.
They continuously monitor user feedback and
market trends, leading to updates that enhance
battery life and introduce new fitness tracking
features in subsequent versions of the
smartwatch.
TATA NANO (AFFORDABLE CAR)
Idea Generation: Tata Motors identified a need for an affordable car to meet the transportation needs
of the middle-class population in India.
Idea Screening: Tata evaluated the feasibility of producing a low-cost car while meeting safety and
quality standards.
Concept Development and Testing: Tata developed a concept for the Nano, a compact and fuel-
efficient car. They showcased prototypes and gathered feedback from potential buyers.
Business Analysis: Tata conducted a financial analysis to determine cost-effective production methods
and a competitive pricing strategy.
Product Development: Tata engineered the Nano to be compact, lightweight, and fuel-efficient. They
used innovative manufacturing processes to keep costs low.
Market Testing: The Nano was introduced to the market, targeting first-time car buyers and families.
Initial sales were strong, but concerns arose about safety and performance.
Commercialization: Tata addressed safety concerns, refined the product, and continued marketing
efforts. Despite early challenges, the Nano contributed to affordable mobility in India
CASE STUDY
Imagine you work for a medium-sized technology company that specializes in
consumer electronics. The company has decided to venture into the smart home
automation market and is considering developing a new product. The
leadership team has identified two potential product ideas: a smart thermostat
and a smart security camera. Both products have the potential to be successful,
but they present different challenges and opportunities.
Question:
As a product manager at this company, how would you approach the decision-
making process for selecting which smart home automation product to develop?
What factors would you consider, and what steps would you take to ensure the
chosen product aligns with the company's goals and market demands? Please
outline your strategy and provide reasoning for your decisions.
CASE
Imagine you are part of a product development team in a tech startup that specializes in
mobile apps. The company is considering creating a new mobile app for the healthcare
sector. The team has narrowed down the options to two potential app ideas:
Telemedicine App: An app that connects patients with doctors for remote consultations,
prescription refills, and medical advice.
Medication Reminder App: An app that helps patients track their medication schedules,
sends reminders, and provides information about potential interactions and side effects.
Question:
As a member of the product development team, how would you decide between developing
the Telemedicine App and the Medication Reminder App? What factors would you consider,
and what steps would you take to ensure the chosen app aligns with market needs and the
company's goals? Please outline your strategy and provide reasoning for your decision.
BRAND
Audience
Leadership Exposure
knowledge
ADVANTAGES OF
BRANDING
• Easy for the seller to track down problems and process orders
GREATER
ACCOUNTABILITY
BRANDING
OPPORTUNITIES
Online presence
Creating new
Branding as an asset especially on social
partnerships
media
• It represents the value of a brand. It is the simple difference between the value
of a branded product, and the value of that product without that brand name
attached to it (Rosenbaum-Elliott, 2015).
BRAND
LOYALTY
Brand loyalty dictates that a consumer who truly believes in the
value of a brand’s offerings will often make frequent and repeat
purchases from it instead of switching between brands.
&
LABELING
Packaging Decisions: Another set of
questions to consider involves the
packaging on which a brand’s marks and
name will be prominently displayed.
Sometimes the package itself is part of
the brand:
For example, the curvaceous shape of
Coca- Cola’s Coke bottle is a registered
trademark. If you decide to market your
beverage in a similar-shaped bottle,
Coca- Cola’s attorneys will have grounds
to sue you.
PACKAGING- BASIC
TYPES
Primary packaging: It holds a single retail unit of a product.
Primary packaging can be used to protect and promote products
and get the attention of consumers, demonstrate the proper use of
an offering, provide instructions on how to assemble the product, or
any other needed information. If warning or nutrition labels are
required, they must be on the primary packaging.
Secondary packaging: It holds a single wholesale unit of a product.
Example, as are cartons of reams of paper. Secondary packaging
is designed more for retailers than consumers. It does not have to
carry warning or nutrition labels but is still likely to have brand
marks and labels.
Tertiary packaging: It is a packaging designed specifically for
shipping and efficiently handling large quantities. When a Coca-
Cola bottler ships cases of Cokes to a grocery store.