DESIGN AND DELIVERY OF NEW PRODUCT PREANNOUNCEMENT MESSAGES

This study shows that the amount of message cues in the new product preannouncements influences the extent of message clarity, which in turn determines the consistency in messages. A firm is more likely to communicate more clearly new product preannouncement messages with more cues for a strongly branded product. If the product is newer, the firm would tend to convey less uniform messages. Large firms are more likely to convey more abundant and ambiguous messages. Market-oriented firms are more likely to deliver consistent messages with sufficient cues. Firms in technologically turbulent environments are less likely to consistently unveil new product-related messages, while those operating in markets subjected to network externalities tend to send abundant message content.