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1.7.2 Social impact of marketing

Along with the criticisms of marketing has come some expectation that businesses should recognise the impact their marketing has on society and that they should voluntarily be socially responsible about it. This means that organisations should take the responsibility for not initiating marketing actions that have a negative effect on society.

Consider this

So how does this fit with practising a marketing orientation? What about the customers who want particular products even if other consumers don't?

The suggested answer is that a firm should try to achieve a balance between the interests of consumers, of society, and the organisation's owners. This means that the firm may decide not to meet the needs of some consumers and not to meet all the interests of the owners in favour of meeting the interests of society. Of course, it is not easy to strike a balance. Consider the examples of returnable versus non-returnable bottles, high-heeled versus low-heeled shoes for women, and cars that can travel at very fast speeds versus deaths on the road.

Now consider the next question. Would you turn down a job offer from a company marketing cigarettes? Take a look at the Ethics Issue on page 895 of your text that summarises several more questions taken from different parts of the marketing mix for you to consider.

In response to issues such as these an additional marketing philosophy has developed, namely, a societal marketing philosophy. This approach, as we discussed earlier, assumes that it is not enough for a company to make a profit; rather it has to be a good corporate citizen as well by competing in ways that will not harm consumers or society.

Businesses themselves are finding that it is in their interests to be more responsible to the changes in the social environment. Their responses have ranged from pollution control and quality enhancement to complaint structures and corporate advertising. The motivations for these responses have not been altruistic. It was simply realised that the unethical and socially irresponsible firms do not survive and prosper in the long-term.

Part of the societal marketing philosophy is that the firm is taking a long-term approach to its marketing. It wants to maintain a positive image in society so that it can retain its present customers and provide a sound base for attracting new customers in the future. Another factor is the rapid growth and extent of communications on a global basis. This means that it is easy for us to find out ¾ and we do find out ¾ when a firm is not responsible about its activities.

The long-term component of this philosophy matches the long-term component of relationship marketing, an issue we discuss in later Chapters.

To learn more about issues related to social responsibility and the societal approach to marketing and ethics in marketing, turn now to the next reading.

In your text

Kotler et al. (2004) Chapter 22, pp. 870-895, 'Private and public actions to regulate marketing', 'Towards social and ethical responsibility', 'Towards a public policy for marketing practice', 'Towards legal compliance in marketing' and 'Summary'.

Consider this

Working through Figure 22.2 in your text on page 876, do any of these legal issues apply to your organisation or an organisation you are familiar with? How would you approach these issues?

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