Familiarize yourself with Consumer Decision-Making Model and its components (i.e., input, process, and output). Marketing mix which includes marketing communications as well as sociocultural influences serve as input and stimuli for the decision making process. Also, the influences of the input can determine what consumers buy and how they use what they buy.

The consumer decision-making process itself consists of different stages for which I use the acronym to remember: SPA IS EVA.

S for Stimuli

PA for Problem Awareness (recognition)

IS for Information Search

EVA for EValuation of Alternatives (which includes the use of decision rules)

Output consists of purchase behaviors, post-purchase evaluation, and developing knowledge and attitudes.

Tasks for this discussion:

Recall a major purchase that you made in the past.

Explain thoroughly what input and stimuli trigger the decision-making process and what influences you in your decision making.

Explain what you did in the process regarding information search and evaluation of alternatives. Did you use any decision rules?

What were the output of that experience?