List the seven roles of people in a buying center
What will be an ideal response?
1. Initiators — Users or others in the organization who request that something be purchased.
2. Users — Those who will use the product or service. In many cases, the users initiate the buying proposal and help define the product requirements.
3. Influencers — People who influence the buying decision, often by helping define specifications and providing information for evaluating alternatives. Technical personnel are particularly important influencers.
4. Deciders — People who decide on product requirements or on suppliers.
5. Approvers — People who authorize the proposed actions of deciders or buyers.
6. Buyers — People who have formal authority to select the supplier and arrange the purchase terms. Buyers may help shape product specifications, but they play their major role in selecting vendors and negotiating. In more complex purchases, buyers might include high-level managers.
7. Gatekeepers — People who have the power to prevent sellers or information from reaching members of the buying center. For example, purchasing agents, receptionists, and telephone operators may prevent salespersons from contacting users or deciders.