Final answer:
The correct answer is A. augment. Augmenting a product involves adding features or services beyond the physical design to increase value, which is crucial in creating a compelling bundle of benefits for customers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Product planners must design the actual product and also find ways to augment it in order to create the bundle of benefits that will create the most customer value. The correct answer is A. augment.
In the context of this question, augmenting a product goes beyond the physical design and involves adding services or features to increase the value of the product. This could include things such as warranties, customer service support, user-friendly interfaces, or bundled products and services, similar to how cable companies often bundle cable, internet, and phone services for a discounted rate. Augmentation thus enhances the overall proposition to the customer, ensuring a more appealing and comprehensive solution to their needs.
Considering bundling and augmentation, it's essential to acknowledge the competitive nature of different market strategies. Bundling can be seen as anticompetitive in certain scenarios but can also be legal and common practice, offering consumers better value for money.