Marketing Information Systems — A Longitudinal Analysis
(MKIS Functions, 4 Components, Kotler Model, Computer Usage, Decision Models & Advantages)
MKIS = the NERVE CENTRE of marketing! How does a bank collect, process, store, and deliver the RIGHT information to the RIGHT manager at the RIGHT time? This chapter covers the system behind every smart marketing decision.
Banky Confuses MKIS with MIS… Again! 📊😂
Manager asked: “How’s our MKIS working?” Banky pulled up the MIS branch report. Manager: “Not MIS, I said MKIS — Marketing Information System!” Banky: “Sir, adding an ‘K’ changes everything?!”
Why Should You Read This Chapter?
Real Life Use
Key Words Explained Like a 10-Year-Old
Samuel Smith’s definition: “An interacting, continuing, future-oriented structure of people, equipment, and procedures designed to generate and process an information flow to aid managerial decision-making in a company’s marketing programme.”
MKIS = Decision Support System (DSS) for marketing. Unique to each company. Collects data from internal AND external sources. Problem today is NOT paucity but OVERSUPPLY of information — MKIS filters what’s needed!
First model: Proposed by Philip Kotler in the 1960s. McLeod & Rogers refined it with Input subsystems (Internal Accounting, Marketing Intelligence, Marketing Research) and Output subsystems (pricing, products, advertising, distribution, packaging decisions).
6 requirements of good MKIS: Unified & centralized. Decision-maker support. Match organization level. Cost-effective. Selective in processing. Regular & quick information.
1. Collect & Assemble: Continuously from internal sources (sales reports, account reports) and external sources (newspapers, trade journals, market research agencies, consumers, dealers).
2. Process: Classify, tabulate, summarize the collected data for study and analysis.
3. Analyse: Evaluate accuracy and reliability. Apply statistical and operations research tools. Draw conclusions for decision-making.
4. Store: Preserve data. Ensure ready availability for reference when needed.
5. Disseminate: Deliver information to decision-makers for solving marketing problems and taking decisions.
1. Internal Records System: Data from INSIDE the organization — sales, costs, cash flows, accounts receivable, salesmen reports. Walmart tracks stock DAILY. Banks know aggregate deposits/advances at end of day. Often real-time.
2. Market Intelligence System: Data from EXTERNAL sources about market environment. Published info: newspapers, magazines, TV, trade journals, annual reports. Research orgs: CSO, NCAER. Market research agencies: ORG, MARG, IMRB. Intermediaries: agents, brokers, dealers.
3. Marketing Research System: Specific research for SPECIFIC problems. Consumer behaviour, likes/wants, channels, competition, product development. Uses field surveys, consumer interviews, dealer surveys. Data collected specifically for each exercise.
4. Marketing Management & Science System: Combines all above + computerized data. Meets complex marketing needs. Bridges communication gap. Uses competitive advantage for prompt decisions.
Exam trap: “Information Technology System” is NOT a component of MKIS! Answer (iii).
Ultimate users of MKIS = decision-makers in the firm. NOT customers. NOT competitors. Answer (iii).
Major users: Middle-level managers use MKIS the most. But support has expanded to all levels.
Management functions supported (in order): Planning → Controlling → Directing → Organizing → Staffing. Planning and Controlling receive the MOST MKIS support.
Marketing Mix support: Price and Product decisions consume most MKIS resources. But becoming more balanced across all 4Ps.
Computer usage purpose: Primary purpose = retrieve data/generate reports. 31% for reports, 23% for different managers’ info needs, 18% for data retrieval.
Key True/False facts: Supercomputers are NOT used (False). Hypertext/hypermedia NOT used for inter-branch (False). MKIS DOES integrate org strategies (True). Most customer data (93%) IS computerized. Competitor data is LESS computerized.
Full Chapter — Explained Simply
🖥️ Computer Usage in MKIS
Hardware: Most companies use regular computers. Supercomputers are NOT used (exam: False!).
Software — 3 main categories: Decision modelling/spreadsheets + Conventional programming/3GL + Database management. Expert systems and AI languages are NOT meeting demand.
Communication: Phone/voice mail (traditional). Email (68%). Electronic bulletin boards (26%). Video conferences (10%). Hypertext/hypermedia NOT used for inter-branch (exam: False!).
Most important info source: Internal accounting = #1 source. Customer data = 93% computerized. Competitor data = less computerized. Economic trends included in marketing forecasts. Competitor info from annual reports, sales calls, clipping services.
Effective marketing analysis purpose: Firms collect/analyse data for taking required steps for effective marketing. NOT for projecting as knowledge-oriented, NOT for controlling sales force. Answer (iii).
📊 Decision Models & Marketing Research
Decision models: Most developed for price and product decisions. Computer-assisted models: pricing strategy, operating budget, evaluating new products, deleting products.
Interesting trends: Less-structured tasks (product deletion, ad media selection, salesperson assignment) — model use INCREASING. Well-structured tasks (computing EOQ, reorder points, customer credit approval) — model use DECREASING (because these are now automated).
Marketing Research example (exam): A branch that had 20% CAGR for 10 years but declined for 2 years — the MD wants to know WHY and get suggestions. This is Marketing Research — specific problem, specific data collection, specific analysis. Answer (iv).
Internal Records example: Bank wants to send Diwali cards to FD holders with ₹10K+ deposits → uses internal records (customer database). NOT marketing research.
✅ Advantages of MKIS — 9 Key Benefits
1. Systematic collection — regular, planned, purpose-oriented. 2. Checks reliability, consistency, quality. 3. Smooth data flow to decision-makers in ready-for-decision form. 4. Tailor-made info for specific needs. 5. Repetitive use of same info for different purposes. 6. Sorts conflicting information. 7. Integration from various sources + cross-sharing. 8. Customer insights from routine transactional data → better customer relations. 9. Total knowledge-management mechanism — captures, flows, and delivers knowledge.
Exam Angle
🎯 High-Priority Exam Facts
- Data analysis purpose = taking steps for effective marketing. Answer (iii). NOT projecting knowledge, NOT controlling sales force.
- Effective MIS fulfils = BOTH: Quantitative analysis + coordination among functional/specialist executives. Answer (iv) both (i) and (ii).
- “Information Technology System” is NOT a component of MKIS. Answer (iii). Components: Internal Records, Market Intelligence, Marketing Research, Management Science.
- Ultimate users of MKIS = decision-makers in the firm. Answer (iii). NOT customers, NOT competitors.
- Marketing Research example = branch with declining deposits wanting to know causes and suggestions. Answer (iv).
- Computer usage purpose = generate reports (31%). Then info needs (23%), then data retrieval (18%).
- TRUE: Most info from secondary sources (d). MKIS integrates org strategies (IV.3).
- FALSE: MKIS is NOT unconcerned with evaluation. Needs are NOT limited/one-time. MKIS IS concerned with management’s info type. Consumer IS relevant (not irrelevant). Supercomputers NOT used. Hypertext/hypermedia NOT used inter-branch.
- Philip Kotler: First MKIS model (1960s). McLeod & Rogers refined it.
- 4 Components: Internal Records + Market Intelligence + Marketing Research + Management Science.
- Planning & Controlling receive MOST MKIS support. Middle-level managers = major users.
- Price & Product decisions consume most MKIS resources. Becoming more balanced.
- Internal accounting = most important MKIS info source. 93% customer data computerized.
- Matching: Research=(iv)specific data. Intelligence=(i)published info. MKIS=(ii)database mgmt. Customer DB=(v)geo/demo/psycho/behavioural. Analysis=(viii)OR tools.
📝 Practice Questions
Memory Tricks
Trick 1
Trick 2
Trick 3
Trick 4
Trick 5
Trick 6
Visual Summary Map
Flash Revision Cards
⚡ Chapter 22 — Final Summary!
- MKIS = Marketing Information System. Nerve centre. DSS for marketing. Philip Kotler = first model (1960s).
- 5 Functions (CPAS-D): Collect → Process → Analyse → Store → Disseminate. Continuous, internal+external.
- 4 Components (IIRM): Internal Records + Market Intelligence + Marketing Research + Management Science. “IT System” is NOT a component!
- Ultimate users = decision-makers. NOT customers, NOT competitors. Middle-level managers use most.
- Planning + Controlling get MOST MKIS support. Price + Product consume most resources.
- Computer purpose: Reports (31%) > Info needs (23%) > Data retrieval (18%). Supercomputers NOT used.
- Internal accounting = #1 info source. 93% customer data computerized. Competitor data less computerized.
- Marketing Research: Specific problem → specific data → specific analysis (e.g., declining deposits branch).
- True/False: Supercomputers=F. Hypertext=F. Integrates strategies=T. Secondary sources main=T. Consumer irrelevant=F.
- 9 Advantages: Systematic, reliable, smooth, tailor-made, repetitive, conflict-sorting, integrated, customer insights, knowledge management.
🎉 MODULE C COMPLETE! 🎉
Banky says: “CPAS-D = 5 functions! IIRM = 4 components! IT System is NOT one! Users = decision-makers NOT customers! Kotler = father of MKIS! Plan+Control get most! Reports = 31%! Supercomputers = FALSE! I’ve completed ALL 22 chapters of Modules A+B+C!” 📊🧩🏆🎉
Congratulations on completing the ENTIRE Module C: Marketing of Banking Services! From 7Ps to MKIS — you’re now a Retail Banking Marketing expert! 🌟