Version 1.0, October 2026. 98 constructs in 18 families across 7 eras, with 18 imported theories below. Selecting a cell reveals its family, era, block, tier, and anchor works, each anchoring reference linking to the publisher’s page. Explore the 18 Family Deep Dives for granular sub-tables, or visit Resources to use the four interactive analytical tools.
Each cell: number, influence pips, block code, then symbol, construct, and anchor works
open frontier position
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Detached series · Theories imported from adjacent fields, each set near the families it feeds
Series
T
Imported Theories
1FC
Sg
Market Segmentation
Family
1. Strategy and Positioning (I · Strategic Choice)
Era
Period 1: Foundations, to 1969
Block
FC · Formulation, content
Tier
Landmark
Cell card
Description
Smith distinguished market segmentation from product differentiation as alternative marketing strategies, arguing that recognizing heterogeneous demand and adjusting offerings to distinct segments is a rational response to demand-side diversity.
Managerial Implications
Treat segmentation as a resource-allocation decision, not a marketing exercise. Define segments by what customers are trying to accomplish and what they will pay for, then choose the few you can serve better than anyone else. Resist the pull of serving everyone: a clear segment choice disciplines product scope, pricing, and sales effort, and tells your organization which customers it is allowed to disappoint.
How to read. Down a column follows one research stream through time. Across a row shows what the field studied in an era. Color marks the strategy domain, after Morgan et al. (2019). Pips give an influence tier. Numbers run by era, then family. Placements, anchors, and tiers are editorial judgments, and anchors are entry points rather than a complete record of any stream. Anyone who uses or adapts this table is responsible for verifying its contents against the original works.
