Background

Robert Buzzell was born on April 18, 1933, in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States.

Education

Completing his undergraduate work at George Washington University in 1953, Robert Buzzell earned his master's degree at the University of Illinois in 1954, and his Ph.D. in business from Ohio State University in 1957.

Career

Robert Buzzell's first teaching job was at Ohio State, and in 1961 he joined the Harvard University School of Business faculty. He remained at Harvard until 1993, serving as executive director of the Marketing Science Institute from 1968 to 1972 and as chair of the marketing faculty from 1972 until 1977, eventually becoming Sebastian S. Kresge Professor of Business Administration. After leaving Harvard, he was a professor of marketing at George Mason University until 1998, and he also lectured at Georgetown University from 1998 until 2000.

Achievements

• Buzzell was an influential expert on marketing. He is best known for designing the Profit Impact of Marketing Strategies (PIMS) research program at Harvard University.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The PIMS Principle: Linking Strategy to Performance

    (Finally, Buzzell and Gale discuss the PIMS measure of "lo...)

    1987
  • Marketing in an electronic age 1985
  • I/M Multinatnl Mrktng 1988
  • Marketing: A contemporary analysis 1972
  • Global Marketing Management: Cases and Readings 1992
  • Product Profitability Measurement and Merchandising Decisions 1965
  • Product Innovation in Food Processing, 1954-1964 1967
  • Value added by industrial distributors and their productivity 1959
  • Wholesaling 1959

Views

Buzzell emphasized the importance of measurable business results and the necessity of research and development in large companies that wish to remain competitive. He also strongly believed in the necessity of

businesses taking advantage of new technology.

Membership

• 

  Buzzell was a member of the American Marketing Association and served as a National Marketing Education Vice President from 1968 to 1969.

  American Marketing Association , United States

  1968 - 1969

• 

  From 1969 to 1971, Buzzell was a member of the National Marketing Advisory Committee of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

  National Marketing Advisor Committee of the U.S. Department of Commerce. , United States

  1969 - 1971

Personality

Buzzell was described as a forward-thinking, practical economist.

Connections

Robert Buzzell was married to Edith Florence Buzzell. He had four children and also seven granddaughters and two grandsons.

Wife:

Edith Florence Buzzell

Brother:

Donald A. Buzzell

Daughter:

Susan Browning

Daughter:

Barbara Schwartz

Son:

Robert Jr.

Son:

William H.

granddaughter :

Allyson Browning

granddaughter :

Michelle Logan

granddaughter :

Casey Buzzell

granddaughter :

Andy Buzzell

granddaughter :

Sarah Schwartz

granddaughter :

Jane Schwartz

granddaughter :

Shelby Buzzell

Grandson:

Alex Buzzell

Grandson:

Colby Buzzell

References

• Contemporary Authors vol. 233