Tuesday, February 12, 2013

The marketing mindset

Last night I was at a market research interview, and we had this exchange. I have no idea what it means.


Suit guy: "Doctor, please look at this graph, showing speed of onset after the patient uses the drug's inhaler. What are your thoughts?"

Dr. Grumpy: "Well, it's pretty consistent, regardless of pulmonary function, but obviously the patient will have to be trained to use it properly."

Suit guy (makes notes): "And here, do you think this instruction sheet is self-explanatory?"

Dr. Grumpy: "Yes, but it would be nice to also have a demo unit in the office, to show patients how to use it."

Suit guy: (makes notes) "Who was your favorite superhero in childhood?"

Dr. Grumpy: "Doctor Fate."

Suit guy: (makes notes): "This page shows the side effect profile compared to placebo, with frequency of drug discontinuation on the left..."

14 comments:

  1. I can forgive a lot of things, but Dr. Fate?! Really?!

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  2. At least he didn't ask, "Briefs or boxers?"

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  3. Way to ruin my day. I don't even know who Dr. Fate is!

    Signed,
    Super Loser

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  4. Somewhere in that mix I was left with a big HUH ?? look on my face, but then I figured it out, K and J burst in and neuralized you. WTF ?

    He asked and you answered ?

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  5. Ah, the wearer of hte Cloak of Destiny!

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  6. I'll never think of Grumpy the same imagining him in Dr. Fate's helmet.

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  7. so what do you think would have been the follow up question, if you had answered "wonder woman"? but then, i'm betting suit guy was definitely in the under 35 crowd..

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  8. Haha, he was testing if you were listening or just giving random answers? Maybe he was burned by previous conversations with other doctors?

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  9. A marketing firm somewhere:

    "Our research shows that male doctors in their forties are a seriously underexploited market for superhero memorabilia. They're old and established enough to have disposable income, but young enough to want to hold onto tokens of their youths in order to deny the fact that they're aging, and the pressures of their jobs naturally make them want to identify with people who have superpowers. If you can talk to a representative cross-section of doctors and get a profile of what superheroes they like, we can make a fortune."

    "But doctors are busy people. How are we going to get them to answer such a frivolous marketing survey?"

    "Simple. Just make up a bunch of bullshit medical questions, and then bury the real question somewhere in the middle."

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  10. "Who was your favorite superhero in childhood?"
    Must be a cultural thing... Here they're more likely to ask "Who is your favourite Winnie the Pooh?"
    I use it to categorise my staff ...more useful than the MBTI. Also identifying with Pooh Bear rather than Xena warrior princess or similar raises fewer identity issues for me

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  11. I have a feeling Dr Fate will be teaching people how to do pulmonary function tests soon.

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  12. That is literally my PCP's name. Dr Fate.

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So wadda you think?