3. Scope & Frequency of Evaluations 14 Objective 2: 1. Degree of the manufacturer’s control over channel members 2. Relative importance of channel members 3. Nature of the product 4. Number of channel members

4. Degree of Control 14 Control that a producer, manufacturer, or franchisor has over members is based on strong contractual agreements Channel manager can demand a great deal of information on member operations Manufacturer lacks strong market acceptance for its products & strong channel control based on contractual commitments Manufacturer can exert little control over channel members

5. Importance of Channel Members 14 Evaluation of channel members is more comprehensive for manufacturers who sell all of their output through intermediaries than for manufacturers who rely less on intermediaries. Because the firm’s success in the market is directly dependent on the channel members’ performance Why?

6. Nature of the Product 14 The more complex the product, the broader the scope of evaluation For products of very high unit value, the gain or loss of a single order is important to the manufacturer +

7. Number of Channel Members 14 Manufacturers who use intensive distribution Channel member evaluation may be cursory Manufacturers who use highly selective distribution Channel member evaluation is comprehensive

8. Evaluation versus Monitoring 14 Objective 3: Performance Evaluation Day-to-Day Monitoring Overall performance reviews that give management a complete & objective analysis of each distributor’s operations Appraisals that assist management in maintaining current operating control of distributors’ efforts

10. Key Criteria for Performance Audit 14 Objective 5: Sales performance of channel members Inventory maintenance of channel members Selling capabilities of channel members Attitudes of channel members Competition faced by channel members General growth prospects of channel members

11. Sales Performance 14 Criteria channel manager should use to evaluate sales data: 1. Comparisons of the channel member’s current sales to historical sales 2. Cross comparisons of a member’s sales with those of other members 3. Comparisons of the channel member’s sales with predetermined quotas

13. Selling Capabilities 14 Manufacturer who obtains sales records for channel members’ salespeople should examine the following factors: 1. Number of salespeople the channel member assigns to manufacturer’s product line 2. Technical knowledge and competence of channel member’s salespeople 3. Salesperson interest in manufacturer’s products

14. Attitudes of Channel Members Attitudes 4 Negative ones often addressed after they have contributed to poor performance Should be evaluated independently of sales data Not usually evaluated unless sales performance is unsatisfactory

15. Competition 14 Channel manager should consider two types of competition: 1. Competition from other intermediaries 2. Competition from other product lines carried by the manufacturer’s own channel members

18. Separate Performance Evaluations 14 Commonly used when the number of channel members is very large & when criteria are limited to no more than sales performance, inventory maintenance, & possible selling capabilities

19. Multiple Criteria Combined Informally 14 Operational performance measures obtained Managerial judgment used to combine performance measures Qualitative judgment made about overall channel member performance