P is for.....

How many P's does it take ?

In business and especially in debates involving marketing it is hard these days to avoid reference to the notion of the" Four P's ", mostly to deride them as obsolete....

I have recently encountered reference to the 7 P' s for the first time , by the inclusion of people, process,and physical environment to the original four P's.
I will leave theorizing to others , but here is my take on it...Are we headed the way of shaving devices, with ever more blades required to complete the same task ?

Whilst it is both healthy and necessary for business and business theory and practice to constantly be challenged and to evolve in line with changes in customer wishes and behaviours,technology and competitive landscape , surely the single greatest imperative ,namely delivering superior customer satisfaction remains unchanged.

I don't wish to appear completely closed to the necessary and continuing debate about marketing and business theory , so in the interest of fairness here are a couple of other P's that others have referenced when discussing business and marketing..

Purpose... lots written ,nothing constructive to add as I struggle philosophically speaking to stay on the benefits ladder which transforms as a random but recent example fizzy pop ( beginning with P ...)to somehow changing the world for the better.

My friendly sparring partner during my time at Lactalis Mclelland Jim McGregor often referred to marketing as" ( coloured) Pencils......"and yes ,he was in charge of the ministry of Promotions.

A certain Richard Branson weighed in recently on Linkedin with the comment that he doesn't do Presentations, preferring authenticity above script; I so wish I had had the chance to work with you Sir Richard....

My personal favourite P doesn't get nearly enough love , so in closing I leave you with PASSION, without which our work is cold and grey, and unlikely to spark engagement with either colleagues or customers.....which is what Brandbuilding is about.