EDITOR’S NOTE
CUSTOMERS AT THE CORE
Customer centricity has become the new boardroom buzzword. But for some companies, it seems likely to stay in the boardroom unless there’s a practical plan of
action that affects all the ways in which your customers can interact with you, at
all levels of the organization.
Of course, customer centricity isn’t necessarily required for success. As Keith
in his interview (starting on page 39), Oracle has been notoriously rough on its
Block, Oracle’s North American sales and consulting executive vice president, notes
customers in years past. Despite the growth that Oracle experienced during those
same years, Block is adamant that fielding that type of sales force not only hurts the customer but does long-
term damage to the company as well. Today a more mature, expansive view of customer centricity is powering
Oracle’s approach to its customers—and the customer feedback we’re seeing shows that it works.
For any company, building a long-term road map that incorporates customer centricity is critical,
however you choose to interpret the term. The key is figuring out what it means to your company, your
customers, and your employees and establishing plans and procedures that get you on the right track—or
further down the track you’re already on.
Even better, it’s not just your customers who will benefit—employees who have better relationships with
happier customers are likely to find their jobs more satisfying as well. Gaining the respect of customers and
being able to act as a trusted advisor and partner will help make the entire corporate ecosystem of any company
a more balanced, cohesive environment. And that’s always good for business.
On another note, registration for Oracle Open World 2008 (September 21– 25) is just getting started,
and hotels in San Francisco are undoubtedly beginning to fill up. Oracle Open World is the premier show
for anyone involved in Oracle, as a customer or as a partner. There’s simply no better place to learn about
Oracle’s products and services and the road map for its customers, meet and network with other Oracle users,
BOB ADLER
and just have fun. New information about the event is constantly being added to our Web site—get the latest
at oracle.com/openworld.
Margaret Terry Lindquist
