Marketing 2024 Theory — Question 1
1. (a) Explain the following terms in marketing: (i) Needs; (2 marks) (ii) Wants; (2 marks) (b) State four functions of marketing in a company (8 marks) (c) Explain four concepts of marketing (8 marks)
Model answer
(i) Needs refer to the basic requirements for human survival, such as food, water, shelter and clothing. They are physiological necessities that every individual requires to live. (ii) Wants are the desires for specific products or services that go beyond basic needs. These are not essential for human survival but are important for our overall well-being and quality of life. (b) Four functions of marketing in a company: i. Identification of customer needs: Marketing helps companies identify the needs and wants of their target audience, allowing them to develop products and services that meet those needs. ii. Product development: Marketing research helps companies understand customer preferences and develop new products or improve existing ones to meet those needs. iii. Promotion: Marketing involves promoting products or services to potential customers through various channels such as advertising, public relations and sales promotion. iv. Distribution: Marketing helps companies determine the most effective channels for distributing their products or services to customers, whether through retail stores, online platforms or other distribution channels. (c) Four concepts of marketing: i. Production concept: This concept holds that consumers will favour products that are widely available and inexpensive, so the firm should focus on production efficiency and distribution. ii. Product concept: This concept holds that consumers will favour products that offer the most quality, performance and features, so the firm should focus on continuous product improvement. iii. Selling concept: This concept holds that consumers will not buy enough of a firm's products unless it undertakes a large-scale selling and promotion effort. iv. Marketing concept: This concept holds that achieving organizational goals depends on knowing the needs and wants of target markets and delivering the desired satisfaction more effectively than competitors.