Marketing Has Often Been Defined in Terms of Satisfying Customers

question 143

Essay

Marketing has often been defined in terms of satisfying customers' needs and wants. Critics maintain that marketing does much more than satisfying customers' needs and wants and, in fact, create needs and wants that did not exist before. According to these critics, marketers encourage consumers to spend more money than they should on goods and services they really do not need. What is your opinion of this on-going debate? Take a stance and defend your position using examples of companies that you perceive to have created or satisfied customer needs.

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Definitions:

Diagnosis

The process of identifying a disease, condition, or injury from its signs and symptoms by a health professional.

DSM-5 Category

A classification found within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, which is used by healthcare professionals to diagnose and classify mental disorders.

Intrusive Thoughts

Unwanted and often distressing thoughts or images that spontaneously appear in a person's mind.

Flashbacks

The sudden and intense re-experiences of past memories or events, often occurring in individuals with PTSD.