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The sequence of various events in Indian Telecom Sector has transformed the industry to become more competitive and dynamic in nature. With increasing competitive levels, the industry calls for more customer centric operations and flexible processes. The emphasis has been laid out in identifying various marketing functions and their use of various flexibility connotations in practise. The interaction matrix between marketing elements and flexibility connotations was developed through Delphi technique, which revealed connotations such as adaptiveness, customization and localness are mostly adopted for making the marketing processes flexible and customeroriented. The analysis of various customer preference factors with clustering technique revealed a solution of four cluster groups where the customer preferences differ on various parameters. The clustering technique points out that customer prefers the best network quality provider with better customer service and plethora of Value added services. Cluster analysis also revealed that celebrity endorsements and the advertisements are not the motivating factors for selecting the operator and they are used only as top of the mind recall. The use of flexibility concepts in various marketing activities such as branding, point of purchase, product innovations, product differentiation, product planning and development, pricing strategies and loyalty programs would help the telecom organizations to better manage their subscribers in these cluster groups.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore how elements of culture and cultural cues such as customs, values and norms interact with the brand identity. A qualitative research has been done to understand which cultural aspect is important for which aspect of brand identity. The results would be useful for designing the product.Design/methodology/approachThis research focuses on exploring and validating the interaction between the factors of brand identity and various dimensions of culture. Multiple frameworks of brand identity and culture have been reviewed, factors have been identified and the interaction between the factors of brand identity and elements of culture has been established in the Indian context. Grounded theory approach has been exercised here as a holistic inductive research technique for identifying the interaction between factors of brand identity and elements of culture. This paper has explored inter-relationship between strategies adopted by managers in creation of brand identity and its consequential perception.FindingsFollowing interaction has been found between the brand identity factors and cultural aspects – product shape, product size and packaging size – were found to interact with individualism vs collectivism, brand image, overall brand presentation, distribution, perception and quality were found to be strongly associated with power distance. Similarly associations were found between country of origin and belief, quality, product differentiation, frame of reference, points of parity and uncertainty avoidance, between Brand Ambassador – Person/ Icon and 9; Beliefs, between Fit with environment and self, Brand customer relationship and long term vs short term orientation, between Enhanced Self Perception and Masculinity vs Femininity, between Brand heritage, packaging colors and images and Customs and Symbols.Research limitations/implicationsThe outcomes of our research show that customization is an indispensable principle to be followed in the global markets and elements of culture and cultural indications such as customs, values and collective norms are integral in driving the branding strategies.Practical implicationsThe outcomes of the study lay emphasis on the parallel groundwork that the managers must make for their strategies, so that, the company centric variables of brand identity are well in sync with the socio cultural indicators of the region they are serving.Originality/valueUnlike previous researches, this work records the consumers' perspective in understanding their purchase choices based on their cultural norms and influences.

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