Intersections in Marketing Practice and Marketing Education: Bridging the Gaps

Introduction

Topics in this chapter include bridging gaps and building intersections between what is taught in the classroom and what is required as a marketing professional. The author will give instances and present several perspectives of how intersections can be established. Several dozen interviews were conducted to bring good news to those who want to master marketing.

The marketing-related experiences of practitioners and academics are very different. A full-time marketing executive may spend 60+ hours a week preparing for sales presentations, creating sales materials, budgets, servicing existing customers, researching, and prospecting new customers. A full-time marketing professor can spend the same number of hours a week planning teaching lectures, counseling students, mentoring, grading, and several other administrative roles and responsibilities. In addition, many faculty are expected to develop scholarly works and also serve their university.

Over several decades, this author taught either full-time or part-time at five universities in Southern California and owned a marketing business with clients in automotive, retail, e-commerce, restaurants, real estate, and other industries. Insights from this dual experience with theory and practice are relevant to study, because in a highly competitive environment, book learning is not enough to succeed in business. In marketing, students also need experiential training. A faculty’s business experience can accelerate students’ performance both before and after the students graduate. Research from these experiences and interviews in this chapter will reveal gaps and intersections to better understand where marketing education will be needed in the future. The chapter has the following goals about marketing education and practice:

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  To examine gaps and intersections of practice vs. education in marketing

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  To discuss limitations of marketing in classrooms

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  To propose education vs. experience quadrants

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  To suggest ways to bridge gaps with case studies

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  To demonstrate why bridging gaps will help marketing students succeed

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  To assemble relevant and useful expert insights that inspire future marketers

Background

A UK Study found significant gaps between teaching offered at university and the knowledge and abilities required by practitioners in marketing (Stringfellow, Ennis, Brennan, & Harker, 2006). More recently, McKinsey considered how to design an education system that moves to employment (Barton, Farrell & Mourshed, 2012). The goal was to make the transition better by reducing the knowledge gap and improve skills for students.

This study’s content is research-based from personal interviews with educators from University of Mississippi, Wharton (Penn), University of Dayton, St. Mary’s College of California, Fordham University, DePaul University, University of Illinois, National University, Emory University, University of Northern Colorado, and Alliant University, as well as professional marketers and their qualified opinions. This content will guide both academia and marketers about intersections and how to fill gaps.