SDM Course Outline
SDM Course Outline
SDM Course Outline
Kolkata Campus
MBA-IB (2018-20)
SALES & DISTRIBUTION MANAGEMENT
Course Coordinator: Dr. Rajendra Prasad Sharma
email: [email protected], Ph. +91 9903522627
Trimester IV Credits: 2
Course Introduction
Everyone lives by selling something. It is the only functions directly influencing the top-line
and the bottom-line. With product and service differentiation getting narrower, what a
customer buys is largely dependent on the ability of the sales and channel member to instill
trust. Increasingly, the best way to differentiate is the way in which people can buy and the
experience they have at the point of purchase.
Improving distribution is a key source of strategic power. The power has shifted from
upstream players (suppliers, producers) to downstream players (wholesale intermediaries,
retailers, vertically integrated producers). A strong sales and distribution often serves to
foreclose market access to competitors. It is also most profoundly impacted by the internet.
It is normal for firms to go to market via multiple channels. Yet, few firms understand how
to coordinate a multi-channel system.
The course is quite important for B-school graduates. The senior marketing positions are
offered mainly to the people who have sales and distribution management experience at some
level. The course aims at making the participants appreciate a systematic sales management
process and distribution strategy that leads to enhanced organizational performance.
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Course Objectives
1. To examine the major decision areas within sales and channel management.
2. Exposing students to analytical approaches to sales viz. sales planning, process,
systems and sales analysis etc.
3. To understand the role of sales leaders in sales effectiveness
4. To understand the distribution flows, channel gaps, institutions etc.
5. To gain insights on managing and motivating the channel partners
6. To learn dealing with channels conflicts
7. Conducting sales & distribution audit
Pedagogy
Participant-centered learning involving discussions around the cases. Students will act as co-
producers of learning by doing adequate home work on the cases, readings and assignments.
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Linkages with Other Courses
This course has direct linkages with other courses in the marketing area like marketing
management, international marketing and B2 B marketing. Even courses like retailing,
Advertising & promotion management has a bearing on sales and distribution.
Evaluation Components
Text Book :
Still, Cundiff, Govoni & Puri: Sales and Distribution Management - Decisions,
Strategies & Cases, (2018) Pearson
References
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SESSION PLAN
Session Topic and Sub topics Reading/Cases
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5 Leading the sales team, C5 Image
Managing sales velocity R9-10
R12
8 Designing customer-oriented distribution C8 D. Light
channels: Service output demand vs. supply, Gap
analysis, Vertical integration vis-à-vis channel Illustrative case: Siffco
outsourcing Agrochemicals Ltd
R13-14
Text: Chapter 21
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Cases & assignment questions
Case 2: Mediquip
Case assignment question: Why Mediquip lost the sale? Any solution?
Case 7: Snacko India Ltd.: Leveraging Trade promotions for competitive advantage
Case assignment question: Analyse the promotion schemes and evaluate the trade
promotion by Snacko.
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Readings to be reviewed:
1. Kotler, Rackham & Krishnaswamy: Ending the war between sales and marketing
3. Moncrief, Marshall and Rudd: Social media and related technology: Drivers of
change in managing the contemporary sales force.
4. Major sales- Who really does the buying?, HBR, July – Aug 2006
9. Colletti & Fiss: The ultimately accountable job: Leading today’s sales organization,
HBR (July-Aug. 2006)
10. Dubinsky, Jolson, Anderson & Mehta: Salesperson failure: A case of sales manager
risk and responsibility: (Palgrave Macmillan Journal)
11. Anderson & Oneymah: How right should your customer be?
14. Nunes & Cespedes: The customer has escaped, HBR, Nov. 2003
17. Anderson & Coughlan (1987). International Market Entry and Expansion via
Independent or Integrated Channels of Distribution
18. Pankaj Ghemawat: Distance still matters: The hard reality of global expansion
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OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
1. Class participation
Read assigned readings, cases and the relevant text before coming to class. Class
participation will be observed and will be considered in the determination of the final grade.
Student attitude, demonstrated ability to work with the group, enthusiasm, etc. will all
be taken into account.
3. End-term examination
The end-term examination will be closed book and will test the participants on the
application of the concepts and ideas learnt in the course.
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STUDENT SELF-ASSESSMENT OF GROUP PRESENTATION
Please submit one form per group immediately after your presentation.
2.
Describe two ways in which your presentation could have been improved:
1.
2.
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PEER EVALUATION ON GROUP ASSIGNMENTS
This form is for you to evaluate your group members. Please submit the completed form to
me at the end of your presentation in a sealed envelope.
_______________________________________________________________
Please elaborate on your evaluation for group members who scored exceptionally low (2
marks or less) or high (4 marks or more):
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