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When the product market changes quickly, companies have to respond fast if they want to preserve their positions. But being fast to market is no advantage if the product isn't right. A better approach is to determine what the entry risks and opportunity costs are, and then use the appropriate strategy plotted on the product development map. For some products, it makes sense to use a step-by-step approach that breaks the development task into smaller, more manageable steps. For others, it may be better to develop a hybrid product. At other times, the best plan is to acquire the needed technology or to exit the market completely.

This article explains the concept of market orientation in a new unconventional way. It helps the reader to understand that market orientation is a process with distinct characteristics and much more than "being or getting close to the customer." It stresses data gathering, the nature of the decision making process, and implementation.

Discusses certain general issues that affect sales-management requirements in most companies: 1) the nature of the salesperson's "boundary role" in the organization, and 2) the relevance and limits of compensation policies as a key means of affecting the salesperson's effective performance of that role. Also presents concepts and perspectives useful in analyzing sales situations encountered in case studies and on the job.

Discusses the typical strengths, vulnerabilities, and key management skills associated with three common forms of marketing organization: a product-focused organization, a market-focused organization, and a functionally-focused organization. It considers how the nature of marketing activities varies in each form, the types of skills that are (and are not) developed in each form, and key success factors required to manage within each organization of marketing activities.

Raises powerful issues concerning product warranty policy as a strategic marketing variable. Also raises several exciting issues concerning the role of product policy in competitive battles, product line issues, interfunctional coordination issues, and some ethical issues. Ford Motor Co., America's third largest industrial organization, is faced with the question of how to respond to a major change in the warranty policy and philosophy of its major competitor--General Motors. Ford executives realize that their decision will have implications not only for sales, costs, and profitability, but also for several departments (such as manufacturing, quality assurance, parts and service, and extended service plans) and their dealer network.

Suzuki and advertising agency executives are debating the product positioning and accompanying copy strategy alternatives for the Suzuki Samurai prior to its U.S. introduction.

Describes the progress of a new product launch (HCS-100, a hospital communication system). Ring Medical has sold only five systems in six months against an annual target of 30. There is a lack of agreement internally on how the new product effort should be organized. In addition, there are differences of opinion on which distribution channels are most appropriate. These issues must be resolved before the board meeting scheduled for the following day.

Reveals that Vicks chose a multi-condition positioning for the product. Describes testing of name and concept, and extensively reports on a four-city test market. Students are expected to evaluate both the design and results of the test, and face options ranging from termination to going national. A rewritten version of two earlier cases by J.R. Williams under the supervision of G.S. Yip.

Technology has combined with a fragmented culture to create an array of products, services, and markets. It is a world of variety and options, niches and small batches, increased competition and changing company structure. Because niche markets cannot be identified easily in their infancy, managers must keep one foot in the technology to know its potential and one foot in the market to see the opportunity. The product isn't just the item itself--the product is an experience the customer learns to trust--which is why everything from perfume to software samples come inside magazines. Old, established giants and small start-ups need each other--the future is in relationships that create new products tailored to customers' demands.

The marketing committee of Paradise Foods decided against national rollout of Sweet Dream, the company's new premium frozen dessert. They feared Sweet Dream would take away market share from LaTreat, the company's first, and still successful, entry in frozen specialty desserts. Bill Horton, Sweet Dream's product manager, who had spent 18 months evaluating the new product and strongly favored the launch, doubted LaTreat's long-term market strength, believing that the company was protecting a product that was already tiring. Four executives - Jerry Della Femina, chairman and CEO of Della Femina, McNamee WCRS, Inc.; William H. Moult, executive vice president of SAMI/Burke; John M. Keenan, executive vice president of General Foods Worldwide; and Richard F. Chay, director of marketing research for NutraSweet Co. - evaluate Bill Horton's performance and examine whether Paradise Foods should reconsider its no-launch decision.

Reebok executives are reviewing the company's advertising and promotion programs for the second half of 1988. These include sponsorship of the 1988 Summer Olympics and a rock concert tour organized by Amnesty International. In addition, Reebok is launching a new advertising campaign with the slogan "Reeboks Let U.B.U."

Describes four kinds of selling: 1) transaction, 2) systems, 3) major account management, and 4) strategic account relationships. Explains the advantages, disadvantages, and risks of each. The second half is devoted to a discussion of strategic account relationships which embody importance, intimacy, and longevity for both the vending and the buying companies.

Dunkin' Donuts is exploring various methods of increasing distribution. Possibilities involving new outlets include area development contracts, subfranchising, regional rollout strategies, and an increase in company owned stores. Possibilities focusing on existing shops include sales of branded products through convenience stores and satellite (non-producing) retail outlets. The case provides consumer data and detailed information about regional differences, franchise relations, and shop operations. Raises issues relating to both strategy formulation and implementation in a franchise system and requires the student to analyze the interaction between the structure and management of a franchise system, and how they both relate to the market.

Norton, a once famous motorcycle manufacturer, soundly beaten by Japanese competition, turns its attention to developing rotary engines. The company is acquired by Norton Group PLC, which is headed by a dashing entrepreneur. The new management must decide what direction to give the company and what projects to concentrate on, especially since the financial resources at the company's command are limited.

Outlines the decisions taken by the company's management team in response to the challenges posed in Norton Group PLC (A). For each such decision, further data is provided for students to ponder the effectiveness of the action steps undertaken.

In 1988, Optical Distortion, Inc. was ready to reintroduce its only product, contact lenses for chickens. Tests had shown that the lenses significantly reduced bird aggression and feed costs, leading to potentially huge cost savings for egg producers. In the years since the (A) case, margins for egg producers had become so small that if a large producer could sustain a significant cost advantage, many small producers could be forced out of business. In this case the company's only salesperson must decide whether to concentrate on closing a sale to an aggressive major producer who may demand all the company's capacity for the next year, or to spend time spreading the word to smaller more vulnerable producers. In doing so, he faces the difficulty of convincing the farmers that cost savings which appear "too good to be true" are, in fact, real. The case is short and can be used in conjunction with Optical Distortion, Inc. (A). In addition to the ethical issues, it also raises issues of sales strategy and the diffusion of innovations, and can be used to examine negotiation strategies.

Forecasting total market demand can be crucial to creating a smart marketing strategy. Some companies--and even whole industries--have learned the hard way that a product's historical demand curve doesn't necessarily predict future demand. An accurate total market demand forecast can yield clues about future product performance. Here are the four steps to creating one: 1) define the market, 2) divide total industry demand into segments, 3) find out what drives demand in each segment and project how those drivers might change, and 4) assess the risks to the forecast and decide which assumptions are most critical to success. Just going through this process can help managers better understand the real world in which they operate.

Gray markets may be the result of natural forces like maturity in a product life cycle (when price emerges as the key factor in purchases) or dislocations in foreign exchange rates. Gray markets are also convenient channels for distributors and producers, and so represent opportunities.

Scott Palmer's most important account, Occidental Aerospace, is pushing for a discount, but Standard Machine Corp., Scott's company, has a long-standing policy of selling its products at list price--discounts are out of the question. Occidental also has plans for two new plants so Standard's bid may affect millions of dollars in future business. And two Asian machine-tool companies have set their sights on Occidental's home market. Has Standard's fixed-price policy outlived its usefulness? In 88205 and 88215, F.G. Rogers, formerly vice-president of marketing at IBM; Bruce Moore, president and CEO of H.R. Krueger Machine Tool, Inc.; Richard T. Lindgren, president and CEO of Cross & Trecker Corp.; and William Whitescarver, president of the Bindery & Forms Press Division of Harris Graphics consider whether Standard's pricing policy can withstand the pressures of new competition and more demanding customers.

Mackay Envelope Corp. of Minneapolis has gained steadily in sales and market share by stressing salesmanship and focusing on the individual customers. Through building personal relationships and through research, Mackay develops elaborate files on customers and potential customers - not only business data but also information on each contact's education, family, particular interests, and life-style. The goal is to focus on the individual across the table. Such attention to detail requires well-trained, alert salespeople. Harvey Mackay himself spends evenings with candidates and their spouses and tests them with long telephone conversations. Once hired, they routinely take Dale Carnegie and Toastmasters courses. The company rewards top performers for collaborative work as well as for landing big contracts.