does any know what the v.p. of development in a company does?

Question

i am in college and taking business communication class. we are in groups and each of us is a department head. i am the vice president of development. I don't have any clue to what that job consists of. what am i suppose to do? i have been told that i am in charge of fundraisers and charity benefits to promote our "product". But i have no clue. I am not a business person. Any have an answer?

Answer 1

Welcome to the wonderful world of job title inflation. That's when the trash guy becomes a sanitation engineer. Technically you would be a public relations person (generally paid as much as a newspaper reporter), but to simply your job description, you would be head of product awareness to the public. This isn't technically advertising, which is often outsourced out of the company. So now you know your true job title, here is what you need to do:
Devolope a press packet, generally an article (written as a newspaper) explaining your product and how it differs from other similar products and put you as the contact person in the last paragraph. You may either put a picture of the product or even the product itself (like software companys sending out their new releases to press reporters). You also provide them with information about the company. You might sponser an event and put th product name in the event title like the Preperation H bikini contest. You might have taste tests, give the product to celebs in hopes they will be photographed using your product etc. Basically it's anything to cause your product to been seen by the public in hopes it becomes the next big things without actually buying commercial time or ad space in the newspaper.

Answer 2

In a business enterprise, a VP is high up in the hierarchy. Usually, VP will head a division and probably report to the CEO. There can be two or more layers below the VP.
The enterprise will have various goals; short term, medium term, and long term. There will also be specific targets. Usually the management will specify the broad expectations to each Division Head.
The classic method to be adopted by the VP for achieving the goals is the five step management process. The first four steps will be what is called PDCA.
1. Plan…Think into the future and evolve a Plan.
2. Do…. Organize all resources and implement the work towards achieving targets.
3. Check…Periodically review the results achieved comparing actual with targets.
4. Action…Take countermeasures and preventive action

Countermeasures are to reduce difference between plan and actual. Prevention avoids repetition of mistakes and reinforce what worked.

The fifth step is to develop the next plan.

A VP typically spends about 5% time on routine work, 70% on improvement and the balance on breakthrough thinking. The next level manager will spend 15% on routine, 75% on improvement, and the balance on breakthrough. The last level will spend most of the time in routine. Even at this level some time must be spent in improvement. Breakthrough at this level will be a bonus if it happens.

The VP will have to carefully deploy the work to the next level, lend a helping hand when needed, and keep the finger on the pulse. If there are training needs, they are attended to.

There are lots more that a VP does, but all those will fall within the broad framework given above.

Answer 3

To me, development sounds like research and development, where you would be in charge of researching new products or improvements to existing ones. The description you have been given sounds more like marketing. If that is what your professor told you then go with it; if someone else told you that, I'm thinking they are wrong and you are actually doing R&D.