How does market orientation reduce the risk of product failure for ABC?

• A. It encourages market research before launching new products.
• B. It ignores customer feedback.
• C. It speeds up launches without testing.
• D. It copies competitors' products.

Answer: (A)

Market orientation centers on understanding customers and the market to guide product decisions. By conducting market research before launching, ABC gathers data on what customers want, how much they’re willing to pay, which features matter most, and where the product fits in the competitive landscape. This information helps tailor the product concept, features, price, and promotion to actual demand, reducing the risk that the product doesn’t meet needs or misses its target audience. It also enables early testing and feedback, so adjustments can be made before a full launch, lowering the chance of costly failures. The other options run counter to this approach: ignoring customer feedback misses vital signals; rushing to launch without testing relies on assumptions; copying competitors may fail to meet specific customer needs or fail to differentiate.