4. Cross-Functional Integration
It has been argued that an organization cannot be integrated externally without being integrated internally (Duncan and Mulhern 2004). Cross-functional integration is built on focused internal marketing processes and provides the foundation for effective IMC planning and reporting (Conduit and Mavondo 2001; Cornelissen 2001; Duncan and Moriarty 1997). Top management needs to be involved to drive the process (Duncan and Mulhern 2004), and there needs to be a willingness to change policies that inhibit the implementation of IMC (Phelps and Johnson 1996; Smith 1996).