The Relationship Portfolio, Part 2

A number of writers have noted that business relationships also follow distinct phases as the relationship develops over time. The common themes in these works suggest that the relationship life cycle has at least four distinct stages, each requiring different actions...

The Relationship Portfolio, Part 1

Given its emphasis on customer retention, the analysis of current customers plays a central role in the relationship planning process. Traditional marketing techniques advocate the application of segmentation techniques in order to analyze current and potential...

The Network View of the Organization

With the developments in the management of corporate structure, many theorists (e.g. Gummesson, 1996) believe that the traditional concept of structure should be abandoned, and organizations should be viewed as a network. The network is flexible, so that the business...

The Importance of Integrated Communications

Gronroos identifies two separate processes: the planned communication process is the deliberate delivery of planned messages and receipt of responses, whilst the interaction process consists of the customer giving and receiving messages through the consumption...

The Functions of Organizational Structure

In defence of structure Structure is defined as the allocation of authority, responsibility and resources within an organization. The subject of organizational structure is somewhat unfashionable amongst the academic community. The trend in industry at present is...

The Consumer

We’ve seen what producers do in their struggle to define the meaning and promise of the brand relationship. But what can customers do? Do brands rule consumers, or vice versa? A customer’s first option is apathy. “Just ignore it.” Sellers have...