Business Commons^™

A Study Of Market Segmentation In High-Tech Startup Ventures, Alan D. Lish

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2010

Much has been written about the benefits of market segmentation. In fact, it provides the basis of most marketing strategies in larger firms. But while larger firms understand the benefits of market segmentation and put it into practice, many start-up firms seem to ignore or dismiss segmentation as an essential marketing strategy. This paper explores the practical use of market segmentation as it applies to high-tech start-ups, examines its use in those companies, and tries to determine if segmentation strategy is used by start-ups in other, non-traditional ways.

An Investigation Of The Relationships Among Market Power, Industry Concentration And Industry Share, Rick Mathisen, Tom Miller

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2010

In a previous study the authors investigated the relationship of market power to advertising investments, R&D investments and industry concentration. The findings revealed that although there was a positive correlation between market power and both advertising and R&D investments, there was a negative correlation to industry concentration.

The current study investigates the relationships between market power, industry concentration and industry share. Market power indicates the ability of a firm to have higher gross margins in a firm macro measure. Traditional market power measures at the micro level indicate the ability to increase the difference between price and marginal cost. This …

Exploring B2b Brand Equity: Beyond The Traditional Models, Rick Mathisen, Michael Musante

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2010

The original concept of brand equity was proposed by David Aaker in 1991. Subsequently Keller also proposed that concept of reseller brand equity. Brand equity in Aaker’s and Keller’s models was based on the value of the brand to the consumer. Little research or models have been proposed that address brand equity of B2B products. Yoo and Donthu tested a model of brand equity in the consumer market. The inputs were based on distribution intensity, store image, pricing, advertising and price deals. These were found to affect perceived quality, brand loyalty and brand associations consistent with the Aaker model. The …

Organizational Ethics: The Ethical Beliefs Of Marketing Managers In Trinidad And Tobago, Mohammed Y. A. Rawwas

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2010

As a result of the recent corporate scandals involving Bernard Madoff, AIG, Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, Health- South, Martha Stewart, and the Wall Street analysts and the accounting firms (such as Arthur Andersen) that supported them, a growing concern has emerged about the quality of today's marketing managers' ethical beliefs. Epistemologists contend that belief is an ethical process that is susceptible to the intellectual virtue or vice of one's own life and personal experiences. Open-mindedness, curiosity, careful thinking, creativity, and intellectual courage are the foundations of epistemic virtues. Closed-mindedness, intellectual overconfidence, intellectual conformity, and wishful thinking are among epistemic vices. The …

Successful Strategising Through Customer Exclusion, Edward Kasabov, Alex Warlow

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2010

Marketing tends to emphasise retaining existing customers and generating customer satisfaction and loyalty. However, observation of the current practices of businesses suggests that such an over-emphasis on customer satisfaction may be misplaced. Many successful companies have developed competitive advantage by practicing ‘Exclusion Marketing’. This discussion defines Exclusion Marketing, explores its main tenets and ingredients, and demonstrates how by implementing such tactics modern businesses can reduce the cost of their products and services while offering high levels of service to ‘good’ customers, while eliminating and ‘excluding’ troublesome or non profitable clients. This discussion contributes to debates on the relationship between companies …

Retiring Workers Could Present A Problem For Marketers, Even In A Recession, Eileen D. Weisenbach Keller, Doris M. Shaw

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2010

Today's workforce is aging fast. The tacit knowledge held by those approaching retirement is necessary for firms to compete in the increasingly competitive marketplace. While some research has been devoted to how older workers view their retirement will impact the workplace, minimal attention has been given to how younger workers view this issue. As companies strive to remain market-driven, this paper examines how younger personnel view the impact of retirement on their employers and the impending brain drain. A discussion of implications for the marketing function within firms also is provided.

Business Consulting: A Marketing Strategy For The Entrepreneur, Anne Marie Klein

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2010

The purpose of this study is to propose a framework of a marketing strategy for business consulting entrepreneurs. Although research related to entrepreneurial marketing for business-consulting firms is minimal, the intent is to create a foundation for additional research. With a case study research methodology and a review of the literature on entrepreneurial marketing, this study synthesizes this research into a framework for entrepreneurs to create a marketing strategy for their business consulting firms. Albeit in its infancy, entrepreneurs of business-consulting firms may be able to glean important marketing elements for the creation of a marketing strategy.

Budgeting In A Chaotic Economic Environment ... Factors Leading To Improvement, Nancy Coulmas

Association of Marketing Theory and Practice Proceedings 2010

Traditional budgets and budgeting processes have been identified as frustrating and inflexible. They are based on immovable targets and often lead to suboptimal attitudes and behaviors. When the budget process is performed in a chaotic economic environment, these negative aspects are exacerbated. This paper identifies and discusses actions that can be implemented to enhance the flexibility of budgets and their processes and to reduce the negative aspects involved.