Great VRM debate: will PR still have a place to play in a customer centred business environment?

There's a great round-up on a recent VRM debate by Ian Delaney - although I am galled I missed the chance to meet Doc Searls :(

The event was put on by Media Influencer's Adriana Lukas who raised the spectre of PR (as well as advertising and marketing) having zero relevance to a world of VRM.

She flagged this issue in response to a comment I left on Ian's blog suggesting that VRM might drive PR back to where it is supposed to sit in a classical business envirnoment: at a strategic board level (at least according to Grunig).

I buy into Adriana's point about disintermediation entirely, but can't help but feel that PR will still maintain a place at the table. It will be a radically altered place, but a place nonetheless.

Technorati tags: VRM, Vendor Relationship Management, Adriana Lukas

Comments

[Adriana]

Hm, I could settle for a 'radically altered place'. :)

[Ian Delaney]

*LOL* at Adriana's comment.

However, yes, this is about disintermediation. You'll be replaced by applications as consumers blackmail companies into treating them as people. Tough shit. (not directed at you personally, of course, but at corps that have treated us so badly for so long.

PRs need to aim for stategic functions on the board. If their job is putting out releases, then the outlook is pretty gloomy. Flat Earth News, indeed.