The new product research department at Leo Burnett Company, a large advertising agency, studied all of the new product launches that the agency had participated in and plotted the actual awareness tracks and trial tracks. From these scatter diagrams, the director of research computed generalized paths that could be applied to future new product situations (see Figure 19.5). A firm that lacks experience can sometimes acquire the data it needs from such outside sources as advertising agencies, marketing research firms, trade media, or industry pools. Such ready-made options are important in these days of global marketing; fortunately, there is an increase of market research data and service organizations with international operations.
Second, there must be an inflow of actual data indicating progress against the plan. This means quick and continuing marketing research geared to measure the variables being tracked. As an illustrative example, a short list of the kinds of questions used by Leo Burnett Company when tracking new product is provided in Figure 19.6.