“Marketing Strategy and Differential Advantage”: A Comment

Abstract

This article critiques the “new paradigm of marketing strategies” proposed by Cook (JM, Spring 1983). It is shown that his formulation of the strategic marketing ambition and differential advantage concepts does not provide general or actionable links between a firm's market performance goals and its marketing mix decisions. The consequent limitations of Cook's framework are discussed, and alternative formulations that may overcome these limitations are suggested.