Public is Micro-Environment "OR" Macro-Environment of a Company?

Fully agreed to and endorsing the answer been shared by Mr. VENKITARAMAN KRISHNA MOORTHY VRINDAVAN

There are two kinds of external marketing environments; micro and macro. These environments’ factors are beyond the control of marketers but they still influence the decisions made when creating a strategic marketing strategy.

Micro Environment Factors

• The suppliers: Suppliers can control the success of the business when they hold the power. The supplier holds the power when they are the only or the largest supplier of their goods; the buyer is not vital to the supplier’s business; the supplier’s product is a core part of the buyer’s finished product and/or business.

• The resellers: If the product the organisation produces is taken to market by3rd party resellers or market intermediaries such as retailers, wholesalers, etc. then the marketing success is impacted by those3rd party resellers. For example, if a retail seller is a reputable name then this reputation can be leveraged in the marketing of the product.

• The customers: Who the customers are (B2B or B2C, local or international, etc.) and their reasons for buying the product will play a large role in how you approach the marketing of your products and services to them.

• The competition: Those who sell same or similar products and services as your organisation are your market competition, and they way they sell needs to be taken into account. How does their price and product differentiation impact you? How can you leverage this to reap better results and get ahead of them?

• The general public: Your organisation has a duty to satisfy the public. Any actions of your company must be considered from the angle of the general public and how they are affected. The public have the power to help you reach your goals; just as they can also prevent you from achieving them.

Macro Environment Factors

• Demographic forces: Different market segments are typically impacted by common demographic forces, including country/region; age; ethnicity; education level; household lifestyle; cultural characteristics and movements.

• Economic factors: The economic environment can impact both the organisation’s production and the consumer’s decision making process.

• Natural/physical forces: The Earth’s renewal of its natural resources such as forests, agricultural products, marine products, etc must be taken into account. There are also the natural non-renewable resources such as oil, coal, minerals, etc that may also impact the organisation’s production.

• Technological factors: The skills and knowledge applied to the production, and the technology and materials needed for production of products and services can also impact the smooth running of the business and must be considered.

• Political and legal forces: Sound marketing decisions should always take into account political and/or legal developments relating to the organisation and its markets.

• Social and cultural forces: The impact the products and services your organisations brings to market have on society must be considered. Any elements of the production process or any products/services that are harmful to society should be eliminated to show your organisation is taking social responsibility. A recent example of this is the environment and how many sectors are being forced to review their products and services in order to become more environmentally friendly.

Micro and macro environments have a significant impact on the success of marketing campaigns, and therefore the factors of these environments should be considered in-depth during the decision making process of a strategic marketer. Considering these factors will improve the success of your organisation’s marketing campaign and the reputation of the brand in the long term.

The micro environment is also called the operating, competitive or task environment. It consists of sets of forces and conditions that originate with suppliers, distributors, customers, creditors, competitors, and shareholders, as well as trade unions, and the community in which the business operates.  Factors in the micro environment are largely within the control of the managers. 

This macro environment refers to the wide ranging economic, socio-cultural, political and legal, and technological forces that affect the organization and its operating environment.  These forces originate beyond the firm’s operating situation.  The macro environment is also called the external or remote environment.  The macro environment presents threats and opportunities that are often difficult to grapple with.

So the Public relates to the Micro Environment.