Balancing Customer and Competitor Orientations

competitor-centred company

A company whose moves arc mainly based on competitors' actions and reactions; it spends most of its time tracking competitors'moves and market shares and trying to find strategies to counter them.

customs r-ct; ntre<I eompuny

A company that focuses on customer developments in designing irs marketing strategies ami on delivering superior value to its target customers.

We have stressed the importance of n company watching its competitors closely, Whether a company is a market leader, challenger, follower or nicher, it must find the competitive marketing strategy that positions it most effectively against its competitors. It must continually adapt its strategies to the fast-changing competitive environment.

This question now arises: Can the company spend too much time and energy tracking competitors, damaging its customer orientation? The answer is yes! A company can become so competitor-centred that it loses its even more important customer focus. A competitor-centred company is one whose moves are based mainly on competitors' actions and reactions. The company spends most of its time tracking competitors' moves and market shares, and trying to find strategies to counter them.

This mode of strategy planning has .some pluses and minuses. On the positive side, the company develops a fighter orientation. It trains its marketers to be on constant alert, watching for weaknesses in their position and watching for competitors' weaknesses. On the negative side, the company becomes too reactive. Rather than carrying out its own consistent customer-oriented strategy, it bases its moves on competitors' moves. As a result, it does not move in a planned direction towards a goal. It does not know where it will end up, since so much depends on what the competitors do.

A cushmier-ecntred company, in contrast, focuses more on customer developments in designing its strategies. Clearly, die customer-centred company is in a better position to identify new opportunities and set a strategy that makes longrun sense. By watching customer needs evolve, it can decide what customer groups and what emerging needs are the most important to serve, given its resources and objectives.

Evolving Company Orientations
Figure 12.7

Evolving Company orientations

In practice, today's companies must be market-centred companies, watching both their customers and their competitors. They must not let competitor watching blind them to customer focusing. Figure 12.7 shows that companies have moved through four orientations over the years. In the first stage, they were product-oriented, paying little attention to either customers or competitors. In the second stage, they became customer-oriented and started to pay attention to customers. In the third stage, when they started to pay attention to competitors, they became competitor-oriented. Today, companies need to be market-oriented, paying balanced attention to both customer and competitors. A market orientation pays big dividends - one recent study found a substantial positive relationship between a company's marketing orientation and its profitability, a relationship that held regardless of type of business or market environment.-12

market-centred company

A company that pays balanced attention to boih customers and competitors in designing its nu.irkei.ing strategies.

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Readers' Questions

  • Eila
    How can an organisation balance customer and competition orientation?
    1 year ago
  • An organisation can balance customer and competition orientation by focusing on delivering a quality product or service that meets customers’ expectations and meets or exceeds the standards set by their competitors. This could include investing in customer service, engaging in market research to understand customer needs and preferences, and leveraging technology and data to stay ahead of the competition. The organisation should also focus on building relationships with customers and understanding their changing needs, while at the same time monitoring the competition and strategic market trends.
    • elanor
      What does balancing customer and competitor mean in building competitor related marketing strategies?
      1 year ago
    • Balancing customer and competitor means that marketing strategies should be developed to meet the needs of customers while also keeping an eye on what the competition is doing. This means that marketers should strive to create unique products, services and experiences that will keep customers coming back while also keeping track of what the competition is doing, so that they can stay ahead or at least keep up with their rivals.
      • Mary McElfresh
        How a company can balance between customers and compititor orientation?
        1 year ago
      • A company can balance between customer and competitor orientation by establishing a strong customer-focused culture. This includes focusing on customer needs, gathering and analyzing customer feedback, and responding quickly and efficiently to customer inquiries. Companies should also actively monitor the market and their competitors in order to stay ahead of the competition. This means understanding what the competition is doing and proactively responding to changes in the market. Companies should also focus on innovation and staying one step ahead of the competition in order to remain relevant in the market. Finally, companies should keep track of customer sentiment and feedback to adjust their strategies and offerings as needed.
        • kieron
          How to balance a customer versus competitor orientation?
          1 year ago
        • When balancing a customer versus competitor orientation, it is important to remember that both perspectives are important in order to ensure a successful business. Companies should strive to emphasize a customer-focused approach, while also paying attention to what competitors are doing in order to outpace them. This can be achieved through a variety of strategies, such as • Conducting market research to learn about customer needs, preferences, and how competitors are addressing those needs. • Investing in customer relationship management so that companies can better understand and serve their customers. • Monitoring competitors’ prices, products, services, and marketing campaigns in order to identify any gaps in their offerings and capitalize on them. • Developing a unique value proposition that sets your company apart from the competition. • Offering incentives to customers to keep them coming back, such as loyalty programs, discounts, free shipping, etc. • Leveraging digital marketing platforms to reach customers and create campaigns focused on their needs.
          • hagosa goytiom
            Is Target a competitorcentred and/or a customercentred company?
            1 year ago
          • Target is a customer-centered company. They strive to provide products and services that meet the needs and expectations of customers while creating a positive shopping experience. They focus on understanding customer needs and creating innovative solutions to meet those demands. Their goal is to provide customers with high-quality items at an attractive price, backed with excellent customer service.
            • Principio
              What is the goal of competitors centred strategy?
              1 year ago
            • The goal of a competitors-centred strategy is to gain an understanding of competitors’ tactics, capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses in order to anticipate their actions and develop a competitive edge to win market share. This type of strategy involves monitoring competitors’ activities, researching their products and services, and staying informed about their plans and objectives. By doing so, organizations are better prepared to respond to competitors’ actions and create a successful strategy.
              • sanelma
                How to blance competitor orientetion?
                1 year ago
                1. Define what is important to your company: Start by clearly defining what the company values and prioritize the strategies that align with its mission and vision.
                2. Focus on the customer: Analyze customer behavior and data in order to understand the customer’s needs, preferences and desires. Strategize ways to meet those needs and stand out from the competition.
                3. Invest in understanding competitors: Monitor and track the competition’s activities, products, services and strategies. Stay abreast of the competitive landscape and identify ways in which you can differentiate yourself.
                4. Analyze the competitive environment: Analyze the competitive environment, focusing on the competitive forces, such as the number of competitors, their market share and the range of products.
                5. Leverage competitive insights: Utilize competitive intelligence to inform and guide your decision-making and formulate strategies to stay ahead of the competition.
                6. Innovate aggressively: Invest in research and development to stay ahead of the competition. Identify opportunities to introduce innovative products and services.
                7. Develop a unique brand identity: Invest in creating a strong brand identity that will differentiate your organization from the competition and make it stand out.
                8. Constantly review and adjust strategies : Regularly review your strategies and strategies to ensure that you are meeting customer needs and staying ahead of the competition.
                • russom
                  How to balance customer and competitor orientation?
                  1 year ago
                • Customer and competitor orientation is both important to a business, as each provides different perspectives and data that can help to inform decisions. To effectively balance customer and competitor orientation, it is important to monitor customer feedback and use competitor analysis data for benchmarking and strategic planning. Companies can also use customer segmentation and mapping to better understand customer needs and preferences in comparison to competitors. Additionally, businesses should strive to create a customer-centric culture and recognize employees for customer-oriented behaviors, to ensure that customer needs remain at the forefront of decision-making.
                  • Paula
                    What can an company do to outshine its competitors through customer focus orientation?
                    1 year ago
                    1. Develop a clear customer service strategy and figure out what strategies your competitors are using.
                    2. Invest in a quality customer service training program for your employees.
                    3. Make sure that customer feedback is continuously gathered and listened to.
                    4. Create a customer-oriented culture by making customer satisfaction a priority.
                    5. Respond quickly to customer inquiries and complaints.
                    6. Look for innovative ways to improve the customer experience.
                    7. Invest in customer relationship management tools that allow you to build stronger relationships with customers.
                    8. Demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction in all your interactions, from advertising to customer service.
                    9. Offer loyalty and rewards programs that incentivize customers to stick with your company.
                    10. Leverage social media channels to engage with customers and to monitor feedback.
                    • Leo Padovesi
                      What is meant by the balancing customer and competitor orientations?
                      1 year ago
                    • The balancing customer and competitor orientations is a business strategy that aims to provide the best customer service while also staying competitive in the market. This approach focuses on creating a balance between understanding customer needs, meeting customer expectations, and staying ahead of competitors by offering superior products, services, and prices. It is a way to maintain a healthy level of competition and profitability in an ever-changing market.
                      • Carmen Wood
                        What is the importance of competitive orientation?
                        1 year ago
                      • Competitive orientation is an essential factor in organizational success. It is the attitude that allows organizations to be competitive in the market place. Competitive orientation helps organizations develop an edge in terms of cost, quality, and customer service, enabling them to remain competitive. It helps them to identify customer needs, develop innovative products and services, and respond to customer demands quickly. It also allows organizations to remain agile in their operations and decision-making processes. Competitive orientation is important because it allows organizations to gain a competitive advantage in the market and make the most of their resources.
                        • Bellina
                          How can a company balance a customer versus competition orientation?
                          1 year ago
                        • A company can balance a customer versus competition orientation by focusing on customer research and feedback, while also staying up to date on the competitive landscape. Companies should also strive to provide exceptional customer service, while remaining competitive and innovative in product/service offerings. Additionally, companies should strive to utilize customer data to inform decisions for both customer-oriented and competitive strategies. Finally, companies should work to establish a culture of collaboration and cooperation between customer- and competition-focused teams to ensure alignment and synergy between the two objectives.
                          • Neive
                            How to balance customers and competitors orientations?
                            1 year ago
                            1. Establish and maintain a competitive advantage: Identify and capitalize on unique, value-add features that will set your company apart from competitors. Consider how your products, services, pricing, customer service, and other aspects of your business strategy can be optimized to provide a better customer experience than the competition.
                            2. Adopt a customer-centric culture: Put your customers’ needs at the center of your organization and prioritize listening to their feedback in order to drive product development, pricing, and customer service initiatives.
                            3. Stay informed about the competition: Monitor your competitors’ activities and adjust your strategy accordingly. Be aware of what they are offering and how they are positioning their offerings in the market.
                            4. Educate customers on the value of your offerings: When customers are knowledgeable about the features and benefits of your offering, they can make better decisions. Educate customers through content marketing, webinars, and other marketing tactics.
                            5. Embrace technological advancements: Utilize advancements in technology to stay ahead of the curve and provide the most innovative solution to your customers. Consider investing in the research and development of new features and services that support a better customer experience.
                            • Josh
                              What is meant by the balancing customer and competitor orientaitons?
                              1 year ago
                            • Balancing customer and competitor orientations refers to the idea that businesses should strive to focus on meeting the needs of both their customers and their competitors when developing their strategy. This means understanding the needs of both customers and competitors, understanding what makes them successful and then finding ways to meet those needs through product and service innovation. Companies should strive to maintain a balance between customer and competitor orientations in order to better understand the marketplace and remain competitive.
                              • annett
                                Why balancing customer and competitor orientations?
                                1 year ago
                              • Balancing customer and competitor orientations is important for businesses to ensure that their products or services remain competitive in their industry and meet the needs of their customers. By understanding the competitive landscape, businesses can identify the strengths and weaknesses of their competitors and adjust their strategy accordingly. Additionally, businesses should focus on customer needs and wants to ensure they stay ahead of the competition and remain competitive. By balancing customer and competitor orientations, businesses can stay ahead of the competition and provide customers with products and services that meet their needs and desires.
                                • demet
                                  What is balancing customer and competitor orientation?
                                  1 year ago
                                • Balancing customer and competitor orientation means balancing your focus on both the needs of your customers and the strategies of your competitors. To achieve an effective balance, businesses should strive to understand the needs of their customers and how those needs can be met, as well as understanding their competitors' strategies and how they can counteract or be an advantage. This involves actively researching the customer and competitor trends, identifying new opportunities and strategies, and adapting as needed to stay competitive.
                                  • Awate
                                    How do we balance competitor orientation?
                                    1 year ago
                                    1. Focus on creating value for customers - Keeping customer satisfaction as the main priority can help to balance competitor orientation as it shifts the focus to customers and their needs and desires.
                                    2. Balance customer loyalty and profitability - Finding the right balance between creating customer loyalty and profitability is necessary in order to both compete in the market and provide value to the customer.
                                    3. Invest in research and development - Investing in research and development to stay ahead of competitors and provide innovative products and services can help to create a competitive edge.
                                    4. Pursue opportunities to create efficiencies - Identifying opportunities to create efficiencies is another way to maintain a competitive edge while keeping customer satisfaction at the forefront.
                                    5. Monitor your competitors’ activities - Examining competitors’ activities and adjusting business practices accordingly can provide insight into the competitive landscape and help to effectively balance competitor orientation.
                                    • PEKKA
                                      What Is Customer And Competitor Orientation?
                                      1 year ago
                                    • Customer orientation is an organization-wide philosophy and strategy in which an organization focuses on understanding and meeting customer needs and expectations. This includes developing new products and services that meet customer demands, creating customer-friendly processes, offering top-notch customer service, and tailoring marketing and sales efforts to customer needs. Competitor orientation is an organization-wide philosophy and strategy in which an organization focuses on understanding and monitoring its competition. This includes researching competitors' products, services and strategies, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses, and developing strategies to gain a competitive advantage.