Effects of Organizational Structure of Marketing Planning on Credibility and Utilization of Plan Output

The authors investigate the effects of the organizational structure used for marketing planning on the credibility and utilization of marketing plans. Data on 53 organizations were obtained from multiple respondents in the marketing areas of those organizations. The results indicate that a bureaucratized planning structure with formal rules and procedures and departmental specialization can enhance both plan credibility and utilization. However, high centralization of authority affected these variables negatively. The explanatory mechanisms suggested by these results are discussed and managerial implications presented.