Buying team members are described in terms of their roles and responsibilities within
the team.7
Initiators—Initiators are individuals within the organization who identify a need
or perhaps realize that the acquisition of a product might solve a need or problem.
Influencers—Individuals who guide the decision process by making recommendations
and expressing preferences are referred to as influencers. These are often
technical or engineering personnel.
Users—Users are the individuals within the organization who will actually use the
product being purchased. They evaluate a product on the basis of how it will affect
their own job performance. Users often serve as initiators and influencers.
Deciders—The ultimate responsibility for determining which product or service
will be purchased rests with the role of deciders. Although buyers may also be
deciders, it is not unusual for different people to fill these roles.
Purchasers—Purchasers have the responsibility for negotiating final terms of
purchase with suppliers and executing the actual purchase or acquisition.
Gatekeepers—Members who are in the position to control the flow of information
to and between vendors and other buying center members are referred to as
gatekeepers.
Although each of these influencer types will not necessarily be present on all buying
teams, the use of buying teams incorporating some or all of these multiple influences
has increased in recent years. One example of multiple buying influences is
offered in the recent experience of an Executive Jet International salesperson selling
a Gulfstream V corporate jet to a Chicago-based pharmaceutical company. Stretching
over a period of six months, the salesperson worked with a variety of individuals serving
different roles within the buying organization:
Initiator: The initiator of the purchase process was the chief operating officer of
the corporation who found that the recent corporate expansions had outgrown
the effective service range of the organization’s existing aircraft. Beyond pointing
out the need and thus initiating the search, this individual would also be highly
involved in the final choice based on her personal experiences and perceived needs
of the company.
Influencers: Two different employee groups acted as the primary influencers. First,
were the corporate pilots who contributed a readily available and extensive
background of knowledge and experience with a variety of aircraft types. Also
playing a key influencer role were members from the capital budgeting group in
the finance department. Although concerned with documented performance
capabilities, they also provided inputs and assessments of the different alternatives
using their capital investment models.
Users: The users provided some of the most dynamic inputs, as they were anxious
to make the transition to a higher performance aircraft to enhance their own
efficiency and performance in working at marketing/sales offices and plants that
now stretched over the continents of North and South America. Primary players in
this group included the vice presidents for marketing and for production/
operations in addition to the corporate pilots who would be flying the plane.
Deciders: Based on the contribution and inputs of each member of the buying
team, the ultimate decision would be made by the chief executive officer. Primarily
traveling by commercial carriers, her role as decider was based more on her
position within the firm rather than her use of the chosen alternative. As the
organization’s highest operating officer, she was in a position to move freely
among all members of the buying team and make the decision on overall merits
rather than personal feelings or desires.
Purchaser: Responsibility for making the actual purchase, negotiating the final
terms, and completing all the required paperwork followed the typical lines of
authority and was the responsibility of the corporate purchasing department
with the director of purchasing actually assuming the immediate contact role.
Buying team members are described in terms of their roles and responsibilities within
the team.7
Initiators—Initiators are individuals within the organization who identify a need
or perhaps realize that the acquisition of a product might solve a need or problem.
Influencers—Individuals who guide the decision process by making recommendations
and expressing preferences are referred to as influencers. These are often
technical or engineering personnel.
Users—Users are the individuals within the organization who will actually use the
product being purchased. They evaluate a product on the basis of how it will affect
their own job performance. Users often serve as initiators and influencers.
Deciders—The ultimate responsibility for determining which product or service
will be purchased rests with the role of deciders. Although buyers may also be
deciders, it is not unusual for different people to fill these roles.
Purchasers—Purchasers have the responsibility for negotiating final terms of
purchase with suppliers and executing the actual purchase or acquisition.
Gatekeepers—Members who are in the position to control the flow of information
to and between vendors and other buying center members are referred to as
gatekeepers.
Although each of these influencer types will not necessarily be present on all buying
teams, the use of buying teams incorporating some or all of these multiple influences
has increased in recent years. One example of multiple buying influences is
offered in the recent experience of an Executive Jet International salesperson selling
a Gulfstream V corporate jet to a Chicago-based pharmaceutical company. Stretching
over a period of six months, the salesperson worked with a variety of individuals serving
different roles within the buying organization:
Initiator: The initiator of the purchase process was the chief operating officer of
the corporation who found that the recent corporate expansions had outgrown
the effective service range of the organization’s existing aircraft. Beyond pointing
out the need and thus initiating the search, this individual would also be highly
involved in the final choice based on her personal experiences and perceived needs
of the company.
Influencers: Two different employee groups acted as the primary influencers. First,
were the corporate pilots who contributed a readily available and extensive
background of knowledge and experience with a variety of aircraft types. Also
playing a key influencer role were members from the capital budgeting group in
the finance department. Although concerned with documented performance
capabilities, they also provided inputs and assessments of the different alternatives
using their capital investment models.
Users: The users provided some of the most dynamic inputs, as they were anxious
to make the transition to a higher performance aircraft to enhance their own
efficiency and performance in working at marketing/sales offices and plants that
now stretched over the continents of North and South America. Primary players in
this group included the vice presidents for marketing and for production/
operations in addition to the corporate pilots who would be flying the plane.
Deciders: Based on the contribution and inputs of each member of the buying
team, the ultimate decision would be made by the chief executive officer. Primarily
traveling by commercial carriers, her role as decider was based more on her
position within the firm rather than her use of the chosen alternative. As the
organization’s highest operating officer, she was in a position to move freely
among all members of the buying team and make the decision on overall merits
rather than personal feelings or desires.
Purchaser: Responsibility for making the actual purchase, negotiating the final
terms, and completing all the required paperwork followed the typical lines of
authority and was the responsibility of the corporate purchasing department
with the director of purchasing actually assuming the immediate contact role.
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