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ISBM Pulse: Conferences and Member Meetings

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chess pieces

B2B2C Market Segmentation (Robert Thomas)

A common complaint among firms is that B2B market segmentation does not really work that well. A possible reason may be that true market segmentation does not stop with one’s direct customer but should also include the customer’s customer and so on in a multi-level B2B2C market segmentation structure. A B2B2C market segmentation alignment may lead to innovative positioning, as well as, creative message levers for the sales force to use as an argument to gain advantage according to strategically aligned segment needs. Case studies will illustrate this approach.

stories matter

Building an Insights Culture in B2B2C (Matthew Rudd)

Many B2B suppliers are seeking the benefits of being more market-driven to aid both product innovation and commercial engagement for their consumer-driven customers.  This presentation is about how Lubrizol is developing an Insights culture and capability through a pragmatic approach, focused on selling and storytelling.

Creating a Culture of Unrelenting Innovation (Gerard Tellis)

Highly innovative and dominant incumbents frequently stumble or fail in today’s markets. Examples include Nokia, Blackberry, GE, GM, Sears, HP, Sony. Gerard Tellis and his colleagues have identified the culture of the organization as a major discriminator between failure vs unrelenting innovation and success.  This presentation will cover the six dimensions of culture and provide a metric by which firms can gauge themselves and benchmark against rivals in the market.

Strategies for Making Partnerships Work (Sandy Jap)

If partnering holds the promise of all things good, why do partnerships and alliances fail so often? Sandy Jap will explore the dark side of partnering relationships:  why “friends” become “enemies” over time, with research insights and case studies from Samsung/Google, Nike/Footlocker and more. Most importantly, she will offer specific recommendations for avoiding problems, revitalizing weakening partnerships, and recognizing when a partnership can’t be saved.