Why would a firm survey its sales force to forecast company sales? Why would a firm choose an expert forecasting survey instead?

What will be an ideal response?


In a sales force forecasting survey, the firm's salespeople estimate anticipated sales in their territories for a specified period. A marketer may survey sales staff for several reasons, the most important being that the sales staff is the company personnel closest to customers on a daily basis. They therefore have firsthand knowledge about customers' product needs. Moreover, when sales representatives assist in developing the forecast, they are invested in the process and are more likely to work toward its achievement. When a company wants an expert forecasting survey, it hires professionals to help prepare the sales forecast. These experts are usually economists, management consultants, advertising executives, college professors, or other individuals outside the firm with experience in a specific market. Drawing on this experience and their analyses of available information about the company and the market, experts prepare and present forecasts or answer questions. Using experts is a quick way to get information and is relatively inexpensive.

Business

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