Work with the marketeers!

[Geoffrey Hart <Geoff-h -at- MTL -dot- FERIC -dot- CA>]

Judy Fraser reports that her Marketing Department
<<...suddenly informs you that they are responsible for
"redefining the corporate image. This will include everything
from logos, to business cards, to mission statements, to
documentation...">> and wondered <<What would you do if
you encountered [this] scenario?>>

Given that they informed you in the first place, it looks like
you've got that rarest of birds: a marketing department that
actually understands the fact that internal communication is
useful... and they may even understand the notion of _two-
way_ communication. That being the case, utter shrill cries of
delight and immediately leap upon the opportunity to work
with them. I've heard so many horror stories about marketing
departments that are completely out of touch with those their
decisions affect, that this strikes me as a golden opportunity
to start building really good working relationships.

Best way to do this is to show up on their doorstep, find a
likely looking individual you figure you could learn to like,
take him or her to lunch, and get the inside story on what's
going on. In fact, if your company is sufficiently informal,
grab the manager (or ask your manager to grab that manager)
and start figuring out how to work together: offer to help,
provide input on their plans, brainstorm, etc. If you're really
lucky, you'll be able to develop an efficient, friendly,
mutually respectful working relationship in which you help
them by providing your expertise, and they help you by
being sensitive to your needs. Or not... you might also have
Dilbertian marketing managers, and this might all be a waste
of time. But there's only one way to find out.


--Geoff Hart @8^{)}     Pointe-Claire, Quebec
geoff-h -at- mtl -dot- feric -dot- ca

"Patience comes to those who wait."--Anon.


 From ??? -at- ??? Sun Jan 00 00:00:00 0000=