Marketing Can Serve Citizens as Well as Consumers
Senior Associate DeanJohn A. Quelch Visit HBS Working Knowledge to read a Q&A; with authors John Quelch and Katherine Jocz. BOSTON — In Greater Good: How Good Marketing Makes for Better Democracy (Harvard Business Press), Harvard Business School Professor John A. Quelch and Research Associate Katherine E. Jocz argue that democracy can be driven by good marketing and healthy dialogue. When governments treat citizens more like consumers - studying their needs, encouraging their feedback, and developing long-term relationships - democracy becomes more democratic. On the flip side, the authors also discuss how managers and marketers can learn from democracy's focus on fairness and concern for society. In a sweeping portrait of business, government, and society, the authors challenge the belief that modern marketing somehow contaminates the political process. In fact, democracy and marketing share six fundamental characteristics:
Readers might ask whether it is dangerous to treat a politician or a social program like a product or a service. But, the authors cite compelling examples to show how companies, including Coca-Cola and eBay, succeed by supplying not products, but solutions - not functions but benefits. Successful marketing is customer focused; and Quelch and Jocz apply this principle to government, evaluating how well democracy focuses on citizens by exploring issues such as:
"This sweeping, insightful analysis of modern marketing - what it is, its role politically and economically, and key improvements that can be made - provides a wealth of stimulating ideas," said Steve Forbes, President, CEO and Editor-in-Chief, Forbes. "Even those who believe they are not involved in marketing will find this deep thought-out book provocative and enlightening." About the Authors John A. Quelch is Senior Associate Dean and Lincoln Filene Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. He also serves as a nonexecutive director of WPP Group PLC, the world's second-largest marketing services company. Between 1998 and 2001 he was Dean of London Business School. Prior to 1998, Quelch was the Sebastian S. Kresge Professor of Marketing and Co-Chair of the Marketing Area at Harvard Business School. His weekly marketing blog can be found at www.quelchblog.com. Katherine E. Jocz is a Research Associate at Harvard Business School. Previously, she was vice president of Research Operations at Marketing Science Institute. |
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