In this age of big data, tweets and You Tube videos, a primary business principle seems to be lost. Confidentiality has been a standard in the research business until very recently. Indeed, respecting and protecting the proprietary information of a client has long been an ethical directive. That is until white papers and e-mail newsletters have become tools that some companies misuse to grow business.
Everyone has received these quasi-news briefs announcing:
Brand X has joined ranks with our winning team of professionals at Company Z. Our portfolio of clients now includes Manufacturer A, Distributor B and Retailer C.
“Old school” thinkers shudder at revelations like this. What happened to privacy? What happened to confidentiality? Surely,client companies want to maintain a private and competitive edge and have an expectation that their service partners will provide it. “Old school” service partners may, in fact, represent a manufacturer, a distributor and a retailer, simultaneously. But those relationships are held in the strictest of confidence with equal respect for the privacy of all.
Is this thinking out dated? Are companies wrong to think upholding the confidential nature of the company/client relationship is necessary?
Is this no longer an expectation of clients?
What do you think?
Everyone has received these quasi-news briefs announcing:
Brand X has joined ranks with our winning team of professionals at Company Z. Our portfolio of clients now includes Manufacturer A, Distributor B and Retailer C.
“Old school” thinkers shudder at revelations like this. What happened to privacy? What happened to confidentiality? Surely,client companies want to maintain a private and competitive edge and have an expectation that their service partners will provide it. “Old school” service partners may, in fact, represent a manufacturer, a distributor and a retailer, simultaneously. But those relationships are held in the strictest of confidence with equal respect for the privacy of all.
Is this thinking out dated? Are companies wrong to think upholding the confidential nature of the company/client relationship is necessary?
Is this no longer an expectation of clients?
What do you think?
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