Which of the following is NOT included as the function of marketing ?

Giving much more focus on selling without identification of customer actual wants

The correct answer is option (4) : Giving much more focus on selling without identification of customer actual wants

The function of marketing that is not included in the given options is (4) Giving much more focus on selling without identification of customer actual wants. The other three options, Gathering and Analysing market information, Marketing Planning, and Pricing of Product, are included as functions of marketing.

1. Gathering and Analysing market information; One of the important functions of a marketer is to gather and analyze market information. This is necessary to identify the needs of the customers and take various decisions for the successful marketing of the products and services. This is important for making an analysis of the available opportunities and threats as well as strengths and weaknesses of the organization and help in deciding what opportunities can best be pursued by it

2 Marketing Planning: Marketing planning is the process of developing a marketing plan that outlines the marketing strategies and tactics that a company will use to achieve its marketing objectives. It involves setting marketing objectives, identifying target markets, developing marketing strategies, and creating an action plan to implement those strategies.

3. Pricing of Product: Pricing of a product is an important function of marketing. It involves setting the price of a product based on various factors such as the cost of production, competition, demand, and other market factors. The price of a product can affect its demand, and marketers have to decide on the objectives of price setting, analyze the factors determining the price, and fix a price for the firm's products.

4. Giving much more focus on selling without identification of customer actual wants: This is not a function of marketing. In fact, marketing is all about identifying the needs and wants of customers and then developing products and services that meet those needs and wants. The focus of marketing is on creating value for customers and building long-term relationships with them. The selling function is a part of marketing, but it is not the only function, and it should be done after identifying the customer's actual wants and needs.