How critical is internal customer orientation to market orientation?

This paper investigates the relationship between internal customer orientation and market orientation. It builds on the notion that organisational dynamics and managerial action in areas such as employee training, effective communication systems, and managing human resources are critical to building an internal customer orientation and consequently, a market orientation. A path model is used to investigate the direct and indirect impact of hypothesised variables on internal customer orientation and market orientation. The findings suggest that integration between departments, the dissemination of market intelligence, and management support for a market orientation are important for its development, however, training programs may not be effective. The results are based on a study of Australian based companies extensively involved in international marketing. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.