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                                                                                                 Mass Marketing


                Presentation of Results.  After the data have been col-  Chadwick, Simon (1998). The research industry grows up—and
                lected and analyzed, the final aspect of the research proj-  out. Marketing News, 32(12), 9–17.
                ect can be generated—the development of the appropriate  DeVries, K. (2005). Make your choice. Marketing Health Ser-
                conclusions and recommendations.  This is the most  vices, 25(3), 20–24.
                important part of the project, but it does not always  Hirt-Marchand, Jennifer (2005). Online research captures audi-
                receive the proper attention. The research results are typi-  ence insight, competitive data. Managed Healthcare Executive,
                                                                   15(7), 30–32.
                cally communicated to the manager through a written
                report and oral presentation. The research findings should  Honomichl, J. (2005). Strong progress. Marketing News, 39, pp.
                                                                   H3–H57.
                be presented in a clear, simple format and be accompanied
                by appropriate support material.  The best research  Kinnear, Thomas C., and Taylor, James R. (1996). Marketing
                                                                   research: An applied approach (5th ed.). New York: McGraw-
                methodology in the world will be useless to managers if
                                                                   Hill.
                they cannot understand the research report. Some prepa-
                                                                 Kottler, R. (2005). Eight tips offer best practices for online MR.
                ration guidelines for the written and oral reports are:
                                                                   Marketing News, 39(6), 24–25.
                 • Consider the audience                         Marketing Research Association. (2005). Glossary of terms.
                                                                   Retrieved January 24, 2006, from http://www.mra-
                 • Be concise, yet complete
                                                                   net.org/resources/glossary_terms.cfm?ID=K
                 • Be objective, yet effective
                The findings should address the information needs of the                        Christine F. Latino
                decision situation. The final measure of the value of the
                research project is whether the findings are successfully
                implemented in the company.
                                                                 MARKUPS
                THE VALUE OF MARKETING                           SEE Pricing
                RESEARCH
                Marketing research has, in a way, pioneered the move
                toward the broader view of marketing. Marketing research
                serves as a coordinating factor between marketing and the  MASLOW’S HEIRARCHY
                other functions of a business, such as engineering, manu-  OF NEEDS
                facturing, accounting, and finance. This integration has  SEE Behavioral Science Movement; Motivation
                the effect of enhancing the importance of marketing
                research to the corporation as a whole.
                   Marketing research continues to play a key role in
                organizations in the twenty-first century. Technology does  MASS MARKETING
                and will continue to enable marketing research to take the  Mass marketing is a marketing approach in which the
                lead in providing useful information for effective business  marketer addresses all segments of the market as though
                decisions. The Internet’s role in marketing research will  they are the same. The approach results in a single market-
                continue to grow because it provides a quick, cost-effec-  ing plan with the same mix of product, price, promotion,
                tive way of collecting and disseminating data. Market  and place strategies for the entire market.
                researchers will continue their evolution from supplying
                                                                    The appeal of mass marketing is in the potential for
                “market and opinion research” to a more strategic position  higher total profits. Companies that employ the system
                of supplying information, consulting, and exchanging
                                                                 expect the larger profit to result from (1) expanded vol-
                information with consumers. Companies that take advan-  ume through lower prices and (2) reduced costs through
                tage of marketing research and view it as a valuable busi-
                                                                 economies of scale made possible by the increased volume.
                ness component will be the companies that survive and  In order for the system to work, however, certain condi-
                thrive.
                                                                 tions must exist. One is that the product must have broad
                SEE ALSO Marketing; Research in Business         appeal and a few features that distinguish it from compet-
                                                                 ing products. Another is that it must lend itself to mass
                                                                 production. In addition, the opportunity must exist, and
                BIBLIOGRAPHY
                Burns, Alvin C. & Bush, Ronald F. (2006). Marketing research  the marketer must have the ability to communicate and
                  (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.   distribute to the aggregate market.


                ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BUSINESS AND FINANCE, SECOND EDITION                                       507
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