The Manufacturing/Marketing Orientation and its Information Needs

Discusses ways in which changing the basis of an organisation's competence affects manufacturing and marketing's differing roles. Questions whether the marketing orientation is currently appropriate, arguing that manufacturing/marketing orientation may be needed instead. Indicates within that to be able to recognise and understand the need for the change requires supplies of information from within the organisation and this will put into perspective the costs of not working within the manufacturing focus and large customers' valued contributions. Proposes that marketing and manufacturing have the same ultimate goal, which is the enterprise's welfare — this is dependent on its ability to create value. Conflicts arise between these functions because of three things: the separation of these functions into institutional compartments; the use of measure of departmental efficiency instead of combined effectiveness; and disagreement as to whether marketing or manufacturing activity is the most cost‐effective method of producing value. Concludes that production orientation meant that marketing was given a good lift and left to add whatever value to it which it could in the process of presentation to the customer.