Skip to main content

Market Segmentation as a Metaphor: Whoever Heard of Alexander the Mediocre?

  • Chapter
Marketing Metaphors and Metamorphosis

Abstract

The term ‘market segmentation’ conjures up images of a whole being divided into smaller parts (segments). Yet, since the dawn of marketing, market segmentation has become a confusing metaphor, badly explained, poorly implemented and, also, one of the last bastions of marketing ignorance. Indeed, a recent Harvard Business Review article about 30,000 failed product launches in the US put their failure down principally to inadequate market segmentation (Christensen et al., 2005).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 115.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Buzzell, R. D. and B. T. Gale (1987), The PIMS Strategy: Linking Strategy to Performance, New York: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christensen, C., S. Cook and T. Hall (2005), ‘Marketing malpractice: the cause and the cure,’ Harvard Business Review, December: 74–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, Malcom and Ian Dunbar (2005), Market Segmentation: How to do it, How to Profit from it, 2nd edition, Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters, T. J. and R. H. Waterman (1982), In Search of Excellence, New York: Warner Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, E. M. (1976), ‘New product conception and diffusion,’ Journal of Consumer Research, 2 (March): 220–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Copyright information

© 2008 contributors

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

McDonald, M. (2008). Market Segmentation as a Metaphor: Whoever Heard of Alexander the Mediocre?. In: Kitchen, P.J. (eds) Marketing Metaphors and Metamorphosis. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230227538_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics