cbch2.ppt 1130KB Mar 29 2010 04:55:19 AM

Chapter 2
Problem Recognition &
Information Search

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2002

Chapter Spotlights









Consumer decision process action options
Problem recognition: actual state versus
desired state and motivation arousal
Pre-purchase, post-purchase, and
ongoing information search

Internal and external information search
Consideration sets
Sources of marketplace information

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2002

Consumer Decision
Process Action Options










Start through steps and complete them in
order

Start, stop, start, stop, etc. and complete
steps in order
Start steps and “loop back” as needed
based on what happens and complete
process
Start into the process then stop
somewhere along the way and never finish
Do not start the process
Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2002

Problem Recognition




When consumers realize that they need
something!
It is the first step in the decision-making
process:







Problem recognition
Information search
Alternative evaluation
Choice
Outcomes
Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2002

Motivational Arousal




Different people have different benefit
motivations for purchasing different
products or services.

Types of benefit motives:






To
To
To
To
To

optimize satisfaction
prevent possible future problems
escape from a problem
resolve a conflict
maintain the status quo or satisfaction
Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2002


Problem Recognition:
Actual State versus
Desired
State


It is the psychological process used
to determine the difference
between the consumer’s actual
benefits state (where you are) and
the desired benefits state (where
you want to be).


Opportunity (vs. problem) recognition

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2002

Problem Recognition
Influences





Situational influences
Consumer influences
Marketing influences

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2002

Situational Influences






Product consumption (e.g., running
out of gas)
Product acquisition (e.g., purchasing a

new home may stimulate other
purchases)
Changed circumstances (e.g., moving
away from home to college)

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2002

Consumer Influences




Actual state consumers: those who
look to existing products to solve
their problems.
Desired state consumers: those
who shop for new products to
address their problems.



They enjoy the shopping experience

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2002

Marketing Influences


Marketing mix
changes and/or
promotion actions
may help stimulate
problem
recognition:





Advertising
Coupons

Free offers
sweepstakes
Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2002

Information Search




Information collected
by consumers is the
basis for evaluation
and choice behavior.
It is important for
marketers to know:








Why consumers are
searching for information
Where will they look
What information
consumers seek
How extensively they are
willing to search

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2002

Types of Information
Search


Prepurchase search:











Directed searches: consumer searches for
information that will help solve a specific problem.
Browsing: consumer is “just looking” with no
immediate intent to buy.
Accidental search: consumer is not actively looking
for information, but takes note of information that is
formally presented or inadvertently encountered.

Post-purchase search: gathering information
on choice made after the purchase.
Ongoing search: continuous information
gathering to stay “marketplace-current.”
Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2002

Internal and External
Information Search


Internal search: search based on existing
information in memory.






Information quantity, quality, relevance,
currency
Experts vs. novices

External search: the search of information
beyond one’s memory.





Personal sources: friends, experts, salespeople
Impersonal sources: advertising, in-store
displays, trade reports, the Internet.
Experts vs. novices
Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2002

Why Do Consumers
Engage in External
Information
Search?
High perceived value versus perceived cost of











search
Need to acquire information
Ease of acquiring and using information
Confidence in decision-making ability
Locus of control (internals vs. externals)
Actual or perceived risk
Costs of external search
Types of products sought
Characteristics of the purchase decision
Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2002

Types of Risk









Functional or
performance
Financial
Psychological
Social
Physiological
Time
Linked-decision
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Costs of External Search








Financial
Time
Decision delay
(opportunity cost)
Physical cost
Psychological cost
Information
overload
Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2002

Type of Product Sought






Specialty goods: search willingness is high
when consumer has developed strong
preferences
Shopping goods: less search willingness for
products that the consumer must devote
time and effort to compare and contrast.
Convenience goods: consumer is reluctant
to spend any time and effort in search and
evaluation before purchase.

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2002

Characteristics of
Purchase Decision






If number of
possible solutions is
limited – extensive
search is acceptable
If need for trial is
high – more likely to
search
Difficulty of trial
high – search is for
quality supplier

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2002

External Search Strategy


Consideration set: those brands, outlets, etc.
that have front-of-mind presence and from
among which there is intention to choose.






Which brands of computers would you consider
purchasing?
Also called “evoked set” or “relevant set”

Marketplace information sources:



General (face-to-face or mass media)
Marketer-controlled (face-to-face or mass media)

Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2002