The paper notion of product strategy was operationalized for this research by categorizing observed product strategies into two 'strategic postures' labeled 'growth/defend' and 'harvest/divest'. The strategic thrust of growth/defend postured products was defined as 'building or aggressively defending' market share to enhance long-term profitability. One of the consequences of taking this strategic stance was that current or near-term profits would be sacrificed. Harvest/divest postured products, on the other hand, had a strategic thrust aimed at 'maintaining or divesting' share of market position to optimize current profit levels. For the most part the differences between the two strategic postures turned on the level of current operating investment spending (i.e. advertising, consumer and trade promotion expenses) and the 'timing' of profits.