Abstract
This study explored the culturally driven variables in the marketing process that contribute to a brand's success or minimize cultural missteps. The primary research question was: How are consumer brand organizations building capabilities and organizing to embed cultural inclusion and insights throughout the marketing communications process? Twenty senior-level marketing executives contributed to the mixed-methods study. Five critical variables were found to be consistent across industries: effective data collection, reporting, and integration are critical; leadership must be courageous and culturally skilled; strategic alignment around cultural inclusion throughout the enterprise and across internal and external stakeholders is necessary; culturally adaptive talent management is required; and an end-to-end focus and recalibration of the processes requires resource investments and a commitment to hardwire a refined approach. Recommendations for leveraging the variables included a greater focus on data integration, inclusive leadership development, process recalibration and development of cultural agility competencies, and knowledge sharing across industries.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Dissertations (MA) -- Organization Development; Marketing -- Social aspects; Communication in marketing; Marketing research; Branding (Marketing)
Date of Award
2014
School Affiliation
Graziadio Business School
Department/Program
Business
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Masters
Faculty Advisor
Rhodes, Kent;
Recommended Citation
Watson, Carol Anne, "A cultural confluence: approaches to embedding cultural insights and inclusion throughout the marketing process" (2014). Theses and Dissertations. 479.
https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/etd/479