4.2.3 The decision-making process
Thus far we have discussed the influences that affect what products a consumer decides to purchase. However, the consumer is yet to make an actual decision! Let us look now at what is involved in actually making those decisions. Kotler et al. (2004) outline four major types of decision-making behaviour that a consumer uses. They are:
- complex buying behaviour
- dissonance-reducing buying behaviour
- habitual buying behaviour
- variety seeking buying behaviour.
- Your next reading defines the above decision-making behaviours and introduces you to the five-step decision-making process consumers go through when accepting or rejecting a new product. The reading is also useful because it discusses the decision process for purchasing new products.
In your text
Kotler et al. (2004) Chapter 7, pp. 263-272, 'Types of buying decision behaviour', 'The buyer decision process', 'The buyer decision process for new products', and 'Consumer behaviour across international borders'.
- Even though in your role you may be dealing largely with organisations, you will still need to be familiar with consumer buying behaviour. For example, the demand for consumer goods that pass through ports is driven by the social and psychological factors we discussed earlier.
Consider this
Think for a moment of some consumer products that your maritime or logistics service frequently handles and consider what factors influence its purchase.