Articles on Employee Engagement/Organizational Alignment:

The Prophet Customer Experience Report: Supermarkets [PDF]
By Prophet

Our second report in the series examines the customer experience in the UK’s supermarkets. The phenomenal change in the food retailing landscape over the last ten years clearly shows that consumers are more than happy to change brands. That change is not just based on price, but price combined with customer experience. (June 2009)

Get (and keep) Great People [PDF]
By Roland Bernhard

This article examines the Employee Value Proposition as a potential strategy for attracting and retaining the best people in tough times. (Customer Strategy, November 2008)

Turning Green Into Gold [PDF]
By Andrew Pierce

In this article, Andrew argues that the question for most companies is not if they will take action to make their brands environmentally friendly, but when and the extent to which they will do so. He then discusses what it takes to successfully make green work as a business and brand builder. (Marketing News, October 1, 2007)

Only The Strongest CMOs Will Survive [PDF]
By Scott Davis

In this article, Scott discusses the challenges being faced by Senior Marketers and four key mandates they should address on the path toward becoming empowered CMOs. (Advertising Age, January 2007)

Power Switch [PDF]
By Michael Dunn

In many of today's leading organizations, marketing is front and center in driving solid business performance - based on a heightened understanding of and responsiveness to the customer.  Leading the charge are empowered chief marketing officers, who have developed a more expansive influence, range of responsibilities, and view of marketing's capabilities in the broader business scheme. (Marketing Management, September/October 2006)

Align Management as Basis for Change [PDF]
By Scott Davis

It is important to create a brand-centric culture that's open to and encourages change, where management is aligned on everyone's role in fostering that environment, and where the basis for moving forward is a shared vision of and commitment to the best of what the brand stands for. (Point, May 2006)

Interesting Bedfellows - Why a Teaming of HR and Marketing Makes Sense
By Jeff Smith

Companies are increasingly realizing that for brand and business strategies to be aligned, the brand can no longer be driven solely by the activities of the marketing department. Delivering against the promises of a brand strategy requires every level of the organization to live the brand. (AMAnet.org, April 2006)

Making Good on Marketing's Promise [PDF]
By Scott Davis

Despite marketing's lingering reputation in some senior management circles as the function that is more interested in spending money than bringing it in, top-level marketers increasingly understand they share the same mandate as their peers in the executive suite: To help drive profitable business growth. (Microsoft Executive Circle, March 2006)

Marketers, Heal Thyselves: Rx to Help the CMO Lifespan [PDF]
By Scott Davis

Marketers aiming to better position themselves and the marketing function to add real value to the organization have their work cut out for them. A new year makes the timing right to recap three of the most critical prescriptions for change. (Point, December 2005)

Internal Alliances Yield Outside Wins [PDF]
By Michael Dunn

It's all about relationships in today's business world, and for marketers, that usually translates into a mandate to get closer to the customer to solidify the loyalty that helps drive top-and bottom-line growth. (Brandweek, August 2005)

Corporate and BU Marketers: End division and learn to conquer [PDF]
By Scott Davis

Corporate and business unit marketers must recognize their differences and their common ground, and work together to maximize business success. (Point, May 2005)

A Marriage Overdue: Marketing Meets Technology [PDF]
By Scott Davis

No marketing imperative today can be met without without the capabilities and insights of the provided by the organization's technologists. Marketing and IT need to bridge operational gaps to create a less executional and more strategic partnership. (Point, March 2005)

Banking on Delivery [PDF]
By Jeff Smith

Banks are generally held to have entrenched attitudes about customers and marketing. But, in conversation with chief marketing officers of several leading banks in Europe, Prophet found evidence of a willingness to embrace the new customer realities. (Argent, Fall 2004)

UBS: Brand Building in a Global Market [PDF]
By Jestyn Thirkell-White

A case study on the change in brand strategy and brand management apporach at UBS (Admap, July 2004)

Brand's Bedfellow [PDF]
By Jeff Smith

Insights on how marketing and HR can work together to achieve business objectives. (Brand Strategy, June 2004)

Beware of Pitfalls that Kill Branding Efforts [PDF]
By Prophet

Six pitfalls to avoid to ensure your brand-building efforts are successful. (Marketing News, March 2004)

"Operationalizing" the Brand: Bringing It to Life Internally Strengthens Brand and Business [PDF]
By Michael Dunn and Scott Davis

A perspective on how companies are adopting a brand-driven approach to business and experiencing not only a stronger brand, but a stronger business as well. (The Business to Business Marketer, August 2003)

Building Brands from the Inside [PDF]
By Michael Dunn and Scott Davis

An illustration of how companies are beginning to take a broader view of brand as it shifts from its traditional role as part of the marketing function to play an integral part in the overall business strategy. (Marketing Management, May 2003)

Brand Assimilation: Aligning Your Employees Around Your Brand [PDF]
By Prophet

Employees can make or break a customer's experience with your brand. Taking a strategic approach to brand assimilation will ensure that that your brand-building efforts create deep and lasting relationships with customers. (January 2002)