13 July 2006

In Search of the "Hero" Product

Companies continue their quest for the next hot offering that will somehow guarantee success for their organization. Are they building something that will last -- or just chasing rainbows?

by William J. McEwen
Author of Married to the Brand (Gallup Press, 2005) and coauthor of the Harvard Business Review article "Inside the Mind of the Chinese Consumer"
There's no easier way for a company to generate buzz than by launching new products. And Wall Street sure loves to hail businesses for their creativity and innovation. But is churning out one new offering after another really effective? What happens when every pizza chain decides to offer a stuffed-crust pizza and every cellphone maker develops a slim Razr clone?
William J. McEwen, Ph.D., is Global Practice Leader for Gallup's Brand Management practice. He is the author of Married to the Brand (Gallup Press, 2005) and coauthor of the Harvard Business Review article "Inside the Mind of the Chinese Consumer."

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Customer Engagement: Going Beyond Satisfaction

How do world-class organizations rise to the top in today's intensely competitive, turbulent global marketplace? High-performance organizations recognize the emotional drivers of human nature and leverage them to drive performance, one customer at a time.

This event will take place from 08:30 to 11:45 at the Gallup London office (The Adelphi, 1-11 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6HS). There is cost to register. To learn more or to register, visit the Customer Engagement: Going Beyond Satisfaction page on the Gallup Consulting Web site or contact James Rapinac on +44 (0)20 7950 4433.

For a complete schedule of learning opportunities, visit the Gallup Learning Events page.