Marketing departments are now having two-way dialogues directly with their customers, enabled by social technology, which is putting the proverbial MR nose out of joint. This is the root cause of the “self-service” model that hits a nerve with the MR industry. Is there a solution to this tension? Continue reading »

Who’s really responsible for poor questionnaire design? Clients – or Agencies? Maybe both? Here’s my take… Continue reading »

The 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) spotlights a trend that has particular relevance for the future of marketing research. It points to a “ubiquity of connectedness” – that is, a future in which consumers are “connected” not only via their smart devices, but their televisions, home appliances, and of course, their vehicles. Continue reading »

I have pulled a snapshot from the banners that show the Top 10 and the breaks by Client/Supplier and tenure. I also added their previous ranking information and indicated the change from 2010. More analysis will be in the report, due to be published in February. Continue reading »

Technology is changing faster than consumers. Consumers are changing faster than organizations. Therefore, organizations need to change faster if they are to keep up. Many are finding this difficult to achieve. This presents us with a number of new challenges that I have set out below as hardening client needs. I have concentrated on just a few with some suggestions on what research companies need to do to make sure they’re in a position to meet them. Continue reading »

Many researchers writing for the press and the blogosphere these past few weeks drew their inspiration from Janus, the two-faced god who looks to the future and the past (and whose name is enshrined in January). Here are the Top 10 most retweeted stories of the past two weeks by the #MRX community. Continue reading »

I’m in the middle of a Linked-In debate on whether we as researchers are neglecting our methodolgical rigour at our peril, and opening ourselves to attack from all angles – the good, the bad and the plain charlatan, all of whom have wares to sell. Will this carry on? Here’s my take… Continue reading »

Market research is in a state of ‘limbo’. If we do not act and change the way we run our profession, we will be held up and not much progress can be made. Continue reading »

I wonder if there is a real difference between Insights and Research? Here’s my take… Continue reading »

Too many researchers believe the value of market research is self-evident, and that the challenge facing our industry is really more of an obstacle caused by “everyone else.” I see this train of thought emerge frequently on Twitter, or within any number of blogs and MRX-related posts. Continue reading »