Survey Competence

Finding out information and putting it to good use defines competence. Whoever is collecting it has an immediate motive, but often by discovering information it can be put to good use, and consequently statistics can be used to further enhance outcome.

Marketing surveys are important because they provide valuable data about customers, helping businesses understand their needs, preferences, and behavior. This data informs marketing strategies, improves product development, and ultimately drives business growth and profitability. Surveys also help businesses measure brand awareness, analyze competitors, and identify market trends. 

Imagine a car manufacturer wishing to understand the way competitors operate around the world. They would authorize a marketing firm to analyse certain brands which can range from just a few major challengers to a wider scope of the market.

For marketing firms’ evaluation standpoint, it would require a network of survey representatives in different countries to carry out the survey which would involve collecting information and tabulating it into data that is sent to marketing firms’ headquarters for reviewing.

Those representatives would visit firms to collect the information. Depending on the requirements different obstacles would be faced. The info could be easily collected by asking directly. If it is public information then understandably there shouldn’t be any reason for the info to be withheld. However, if it is sensitive or requires effort to produce then there could be resistance.

Networking and building rapport are ways to get help. It takes persistence while consistent effort to collect the appropriate data. There are usually deadlines to collect the data in order for the survey project to be delivered on time. It takes a special kind of person, as well, with the right attitude to be determined and diligent in getting the job done.

Survey competence plays an important role in business development, and needs to be respected as a meaningful profession.

Take care!

Prof. Carl Boniface   

Vocabulary builder:

Scope (n) = latitude, range, extent, capacity, span,scale, reach, space, opportunity, choice

Standpoint (n) = position, stance, angle, viewpoint, perspective

Tabulating (v) = charting, organizing, presenting, formulating, set out, lay out, put into a table 

Firms (n) = companies, businesses, organizations, multinationals, corporations, practices, (v) hardens, compresses, stiffens

Withheld (adj) = suspended, withdrawn, inoperative, pending, out of action, on ice, (ant) ongoing, (v) refused, denied