Question

The number of salespersons needed to serve the firm's customers is determined by which of the following? Average available selling time in hours per salesperson per period. Number of customers to be serviced Average length of each sales call (in hours) All of the other factors listed must be considered. Average number of required visits per customer per period

Answer 1

Determining the number of salespersons needed involves examining multiple factors, such as average selling time, number of customers, and frequency of visits, while also considering past performance records for sales and services.

Step-by-step explanation:

The number of salespersons needed to serve the firm's customers is determined by several factors, including average available selling time in hours per salesperson per period, the number of customers to be serviced, the average length of each sales call in hours, the average number of required visits per customer per period, and perhaps other factors such as the efficiency of each salesperson, the complexity of the sale, and external factors like market conditions and competition. All these factors must be considered in conjunction to ensure adequate staffing to meet customer demand.

In the case of service maintenance for air conditioners, for example, it's essential to look into past service records for average service time and standard deviation to assess whether the allocated 1.1 hours per technician are sufficient. Similarly, a car salesperson's capability to sell a certain number of cars per week provides an essential indication of productivity and customer reach. A furniture company must evaluate their delivery schedule to manage customer expectations and optimize delivery operations.

Answer 2

The number of salespersons needed is determined by considering the average available selling time, number of customers, length of sales calls, and required visits per customer. All factors must be accounted for to estimate staffing needs correctly.

Step-by-step explanation:

The number of salespersons needed to serve a firm's customers is contingent upon several factors, including the average available selling time per salesperson, the number of customers to be serviced, the average length of each sales call, and the average number of required visits per customer. To calculate the staffing needs accurately, all of these factors must be considered in conjunction with one another.

Using the given exercise data as a reference, in a scenario where we expect 30 customers per hour, and one customer arrives every two minutes, it is important to understand the staffing levels required to handle customer flow efficiently. This data provides insight into the expected workload and aids in determining the optimal number of salespersons.

For example, if we expect one customer every two minutes on average, and the average service time per customer is known, multiplying these two figures will give an estimate of the total time required to serve all customers. This, in turn, can be used to assess whether the current staffing level is adequate.