2. Customer and Stakeholder Connectivity
IMC requires the adoption of an "outside-in" approach that enhances customer connectivity and organizational responsiveness to change by putting the customer first (Duncan and Moriarty 1997; Pickton and Hartley 1998; Schultz 1998; Smith 1996). More specifically, IMC planners and strategists require the existence, calibration, and application of a marketing information system designed to elicit a clear understanding of brand touch points, effect a timely dialogue with customers and other key stakeholders, and facilitate insights into competitive brand activity. The existence of a database calibrated to measure customer and stakeholder responsiveness of campaigns will also facilitate measurement of performance.