Dual Diffusion: Analysis and Implications for Sales Force Management

Authors

Madhavan Parthasarathy, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Ravipreet S. Sohi, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Ronald D. Hampton, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

1994

Citation

Parthasarathy, Madhavan, Ravipreet S. Sohi, and Ronald D. Hampton. "Dual diffusion: analysis and implications for sales force management." Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice (1994): 1-14.

Comments

This paper appeared as the lead article in the Summer 1994 issue of the Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice.

Abstract

Retail resistance to an innovation can hamper its supply to consumers, thereby influencing product adoption behavior. Given this, a dual diffusion process consisting of both retail and consumer adoption is more appropriate in today's dynamic marketplace. Sales emphasis by manufacturers can strongly influence retail and consumer adoption behaviors, which would be reflected in the shapes of their respective patterns. In this paper, the authors examine the nature of retail adoption and its impact, both positive and negative, on consumer adoption. Following this, they present a strategic framework that lays out the sales management implications of the dual diffusion process.