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Useful Advices - Sales Management - What's Involved? Part 1
What any individual Sales Manager actively does is conditioned by the size of their company, the products it sells and the way they are sold, the organisation of functions within it, and perhaps their own special ability. They may carry most or all of the responsibilities which would be those of a Marketing Manager, if this position does not exist within their company.
Essentially, however, the task of the Sales Manager is to produce revenue for their company through the operations of the sales staff for whom they are
Essentially, however, the task of the Sales Manager is to produce revenue for their company through the operations of the sales staff for whom they are
According to USFDA, a combination product is one composed of any combination of a drug and device; biological product and device; drug and biological product
responsible. The size of this revenue, and the profit (however defined) which it should show, are usually predetermined in order to achieve the aims of company policy. The objectives which they set for the various activities which are involved in carrying out this task should therefore be derived from, and be compatible with, company objectives, such as return on capital employed, cash flow, market position, growth.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SALES MANAGER’S JOB
• Many of the factors which affect success are not within
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SALES MANAGER’S JOB
• Many of the factors which affect success are not within
; or drug, device, and biological product and fixed dose combination would include two or more combinations of drug.
Examples of combination products may in
Examples of combination products may in
their control (such as competitors and government legislation)
• They are nevertheless required to forecast future sales and to plan their operation accordingly, using their judgement and experience.
• They must depend on other departments for the design, production, quality and delivery of products for which they obtain orders, just as those departments must depend on them to get these orders.
• The sales staff that they rely on to produce the results they have planned for, are for most of the time w
• They are nevertheless required to forecast future sales and to plan their operation accordingly, using their judgement and experience.
• They must depend on other departments for the design, production, quality and delivery of products for which they obtain orders, just as those departments must depend on them to get these orders.
• The sales staff that they rely on to produce the results they have planned for, are for most of the time w
lude drug-coated devices, drugs packaged with delivery devices in medical kits, and drugs and devices packaged separately but intended to be used together.
orking alone, not under their immediate control.
• They are engaged in a constant struggle to obtain increased sales against competitors with the same aim.
Although the basic functions and skills of management, discussed later, apply to their job, it is clear that such qualities as creativeness, flexibility, tenacity, and ability to deal effectively with people, will be particularly important. At the same time the ability to analyse market situations and form sound judgements on them, is equally necessary
• They are engaged in a constant struggle to obtain increased sales against competitors with the same aim.
Although the basic functions and skills of management, discussed later, apply to their job, it is clear that such qualities as creativeness, flexibility, tenacity, and ability to deal effectively with people, will be particularly important. At the same time the ability to analyse market situations and form sound judgements on them, is equally necessary
here is enormous increase in the number of combination products entering the market in the recent years. Combination products have proven advantages but fixe
but may not sit easily with the kind of qualities mentioned.
THE SELLING ROLE
Since, like other managers, the Sales Manager depends on those who work for them to produce the results by which they are judged, consideration of their job can usefully continue by examining the nature and characteristics of industrial selling and, hence, of the salesperson’s job.
Personal selling is only one of several possible ways of communicating with customers and potential customers but, particularly where industrial goods are conce
THE SELLING ROLE
Since, like other managers, the Sales Manager depends on those who work for them to produce the results by which they are judged, consideration of their job can usefully continue by examining the nature and characteristics of industrial selling and, hence, of the salesperson’s job.
Personal selling is only one of several possible ways of communicating with customers and potential customers but, particularly where industrial goods are conce
d dose combinations are still in the process of convincing regulatory authority on their advantages over the single ingredient formulations.
Combination pro
Combination pro
ned, is undoubtedly the most effective in terms of achieving the objective - influencing the decision to buy. It is also, even though selling costs may be a small percentage of revenue, expensive. Sales staff should therefore be treated as a scarce resource, to be used as effectively as possible.
Selling itself is a process of bringing persuasion to bear, to;
- Awaken awareness of a need or problem
- Establish that the need can be satisfied by a particular type of product
- Convince the prospective user that the sa
Selling itself is a process of bringing persuasion to bear, to;
- Awaken awareness of a need or problem
- Establish that the need can be satisfied by a particular type of product
- Convince the prospective user that the sa
ucts have become life saving products for the pharmaceutical companies who doesn’t have many innovative molecules in their product pipeline and have been inc
lesperson’s own product can offer a superior satisfaction.
The actual selling job for a particular product or company may embrace all three of these stages, the last two, or the last only, depending on the situation requirements.
- An innovatory product, hitherto unknown
- A product for which there are alternatives
- An established market in which the user can choose from a number of makes.
For economy of effort the salesperson’s task (and perhaps the kind of person required) should be defined accordingly.
OTHER
The actual selling job for a particular product or company may embrace all three of these stages, the last two, or the last only, depending on the situation requirements.
- An innovatory product, hitherto unknown
- A product for which there are alternatives
- An established market in which the user can choose from a number of makes.
For economy of effort the salesperson’s task (and perhaps the kind of person required) should be defined accordingly.
OTHER
easingly used in the product life cycle management. Even the companies having product patents are trying to extend their product life cycle through the combi
TASKS OF THE SALES STAFF
Although selling is the basic justification of the salesperson’s existence and The Sales Manager’s purpose in employing them, all sales staff have to spend part of their time doing other things (e.g. travelling and preparing reports). Sales staff are, however, often also required to:
- Provide technical information other than that strictly needed to make a sale
- Give some kind of after-sales service
- Conduct market research (going beyond the normal, essential supply of market
Although selling is the basic justification of the salesperson’s existence and The Sales Manager’s purpose in employing them, all sales staff have to spend part of their time doing other things (e.g. travelling and preparing reports). Sales staff are, however, often also required to:
- Provide technical information other than that strictly needed to make a sale
- Give some kind of after-sales service
- Conduct market research (going beyond the normal, essential supply of market
nation products and maximize the revenues. But the companies involved in this practice are overlooking that they are burdening the patients both economically
intelligence about customers, competitors, etc)
- Check credit status of potential customers
It may or may not be that the salesperson is the best person to do such things as these. As, however, he is a scarce resource, expensive, and employed to obtain orders, the cost-effectiveness of using them for such purposes compared with other means should be examined - remembering also that there may be some loss of sales to take into account (the “opportunity cost”)
THE SALES MANAGER’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR SALES STAFF
Some
- Check credit status of potential customers
It may or may not be that the salesperson is the best person to do such things as these. As, however, he is a scarce resource, expensive, and employed to obtain orders, the cost-effectiveness of using them for such purposes compared with other means should be examined - remembering also that there may be some loss of sales to take into account (the “opportunity cost”)
THE SALES MANAGER’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR SALES STAFF
Some
and physically. They need to rightly judge the benefits of the combination products and they have to even look at the risks involved when combining the produ
characteristics common to most forms of selling are:
- Smaller sales forces in industrial selling than consumer goods selling, usually dealing with a very much smaller number of clients
- Responsibility and power to make decisions vested in the individual salesperson
- The need often to deal with a number of people in the customer company in order to achieve buying decisions.
These characteristics must influence the nature of the Sales Manager’s responsibility for their sales staff and the form
- Smaller sales forces in industrial selling than consumer goods selling, usually dealing with a very much smaller number of clients
- Responsibility and power to make decisions vested in the individual salesperson
- The need often to deal with a number of people in the customer company in order to achieve buying decisions.
These characteristics must influence the nature of the Sales Manager’s responsibility for their sales staff and the form
ts. Some of the combination products were well accepted by physicians while others suffered. Companies involved in development of combination products are fi
it takes.
One effect may well be that a good deal of the market analysis and planning which is part of the Sales Manager’s responsibility, is delegated to sales staff who, to this extent, are the managers of their own territory. If this is so, the need for clear objectives and adequate overall control is stronger than if sales staff were more closely directed. This also emphasises the importance of good communication and information, flowing in both directions.
The Sales Manager’s general responsibilities for his sa
One effect may well be that a good deal of the market analysis and planning which is part of the Sales Manager’s responsibility, is delegated to sales staff who, to this extent, are the managers of their own territory. If this is so, the need for clear objectives and adequate overall control is stronger than if sales staff were more closely directed. This also emphasises the importance of good communication and information, flowing in both directions.
The Sales Manager’s general responsibilities for his sa
ding difficulty in defining their combination products and facing various challenges from selecting a combination to marketing it.
Following aspects would a
Following aspects would a
les staff may be summarised:
• Planning
He is given resources, human and financial, and has to plan to use those in the most effective combination to achieve predetermined results. They can do this only by knowing his staff and understanding the nature and behaviour of costs.
• Organising
The way in which he develops his sales staff - whether on a general or territorial basis, or. specialising in types of product or by class of customer or end user - should derive from a study of the market, taki
• Planning
He is given resources, human and financial, and has to plan to use those in the most effective combination to achieve predetermined results. They can do this only by knowing his staff and understanding the nature and behaviour of costs.
• Organising
The way in which he develops his sales staff - whether on a general or territorial basis, or. specialising in types of product or by class of customer or end user - should derive from a study of the market, taki
dd to the challenges in developing combination products:
Which markets to tap where the combination products can do fairly well?
Which combination prod
Which markets to tap where the combination products can do fairly well?
Which combination prod
ng into account also the qualifications and the experience of the sales staff.
• Training
As products, markets and objectives tend to be continually developing and changing, training also should be a continuous process. With small sales forces, formal training presents difficulties, but the need to always seek a higher standard of performance remains.
• Control
This involves setting targets and standards for measurement of performance, and taking appropriate action when they are not met.
• Motivation
Motiva
• Training
As products, markets and objectives tend to be continually developing and changing, training also should be a continuous process. With small sales forces, formal training presents difficulties, but the need to always seek a higher standard of performance remains.
• Control
This involves setting targets and standards for measurement of performance, and taking appropriate action when they are not met.
• Motivation
Motiva
cts are meaningful and rational?
Which therapeutic categories to select?
Which Combinations can address unmet needs of the patients?
Do combin
Which therapeutic categories to select?
Which Combinations can address unmet needs of the patients?
Do combin
tion implies two effects in the sales staff: the right attitude to their job and willingness to play their part to the best of their ability in achieving aims set by their manager. It results partly from training, partly from incentives (financial and other), and perhaps most of all from the leadership given by their manager. Regular appraisal of performance and attitudes by discussion with the sales force, and observation of their work, are important for this purpose.
RECRUITMENT OF SALES STAFF
Selecting a person
RECRUITMENT OF SALES STAFF
Selecting a person
tions increase the patient compliance?
What would be the developing cost?
How to tackle the risks encountered during combination product developmen
What would be the developing cost?
How to tackle the risks encountered during combination product developmen
who will become a successful member of the sales force for any particular company is very difficult, whether they are appointed from within the company or are recruited from outside. It is often made more difficult than it need be by the lack of an adequate specification of the job the sales person is to do and, derived from this, a specification of the kind of person who might be likely to succeed. Such specifications introduce some objectivity into the selection process and provide some measures of comparability bet
t?
As combination products don't fit into the traditional categories of drugs, medical devices, or biological products, the USFDA is in the process of devel
As combination products don't fit into the traditional categories of drugs, medical devices, or biological products, the USFDA is in the process of devel
een candidates.
The importance of the sales person to their company, and the considerable investment made in them, justify a systematic approach to the ways in which, as a candidate, they are assessed and decisions are made about them. The validity of assumptions made about them at the time of appointment should be checked against subsequent performance, and the reasons for mistakes investigated.
The subjective element in selection will never be eliminated, and in at least one respect it is a valid criterion. The per
The importance of the sales person to their company, and the considerable investment made in them, justify a systematic approach to the ways in which, as a candidate, they are assessed and decisions are made about them. The validity of assumptions made about them at the time of appointment should be checked against subsequent performance, and the reasons for mistakes investigated.
The subjective element in selection will never be eliminated, and in at least one respect it is a valid criterion. The per
ping new procedures for reviewing their safety, efficacy and quality.
Professional from academic institutions, pharmaceutical industries, health care indust
Professional from academic institutions, pharmaceutical industries, health care indust
son chosen must “fit in” to the team comprising the Sales Manager and their sales force. If they do not do so, no matter how suitable their qualifications and experience may be, friction is likely to ensue.
THE NATURE OF MANAGEMENT
A Sales Manager may or may not be an outstanding sales person. The important thing is that he should be a good manager. This is their individual and unique contribution to their company.
The essentials of management are:
Measurement or assessment
Planning, which includes organis
THE NATURE OF MANAGEMENT
A Sales Manager may or may not be an outstanding sales person. The important thing is that he should be a good manager. This is their individual and unique contribution to their company.
The essentials of management are:
Measurement or assessment
Planning, which includes organis
y and representatives from various regulatory agencies are working out to design the regulatory requirements for manufacture and sale of combination products
ing
Direction and control
Plans, and the direction and control of activities to put the plans into effect, depend on the collection and analysis of information, from which decisions are made.
The initial plans (say for 12 months, on which a budget will be based) results from analysis of the market and environmental factors (such as economic conditions) and from the assessment of the resources available to the manager. Control requires an input of information about performance which has to be measured against the
Direction and control
Plans, and the direction and control of activities to put the plans into effect, depend on the collection and analysis of information, from which decisions are made.
The initial plans (say for 12 months, on which a budget will be based) results from analysis of the market and environmental factors (such as economic conditions) and from the assessment of the resources available to the manager. Control requires an input of information about performance which has to be measured against the
.
As there is an increasing trend of the combination products companies manufacturing such products should be able to tackle the problems involved in the de
As there is an increasing trend of the combination products companies manufacturing such products should be able to tackle the problems involved in the de
standards set in the plans. Where there are discrepancies the manager must decide what to do about them.
The two basic requirements for good management (apart from personal qualities which make the manager an acceptable leader) are therefore:
Adequate information
Decisions which take account of the relevant information
Adequate information about markets is hard to get, and the cost of obtaining it may outweigh the advantages of having it. The Sales Manager is therefore often in the position of having to make d
The two basic requirements for good management (apart from personal qualities which make the manager an acceptable leader) are therefore:
Adequate information
Decisions which take account of the relevant information
Adequate information about markets is hard to get, and the cost of obtaining it may outweigh the advantages of having it. The Sales Manager is therefore often in the position of having to make d
elopment. They need to be wiser in analyzing the market trends and the regulatory requirements.
Companies that provide selfless information through particip
Companies that provide selfless information through particip
ecisions on the basis of incomplete information or assumptions. They must then rely to some extent on past experience and their own judgement of the probability that this or that will happen. The important thing in these circumstances it to record (preferably in writing) the assumptions that have been made so that, if subsequently information becomes available which falsifies these assumptions, some assessment can be made of consequences for plans based on them.
Copyright © 2006 Jonathan Farrington. All rights reserve
Copyright © 2006 Jonathan Farrington. All rights reserve
tion in industry events and feedback to regulatory authorities would be able to face the challenges and will be successful in developing combination products
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