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Conference may debate unification13/July/2001 |
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The debate about the desirability of unifying the various representative bodies of the UK market research industry is likely to be revived early next year, specifically during the opening session of the annual conference of the Market Research Society. According to Laurence Curtis, Chairman of the Conference Committee and Chief Executive of The Research Business International (TRBI), no hard-and fast decision has yet been taken. However, the committee has been discussing the possibility of devoting the opening session to the structure of the industry Committee members are open-minded about the form such a session might take. There could be set speeches, a panel discussion or some kind of question-and-answer procedure. It is not excluded that the MRS might invite a speaker from the Netherlands to explain how a single organisation in that country represents both individual researchers and research companies. Curtis is insistent that the debate, if it takes place, should not be limited to relations between the MRS, a professional society of individuals, and the BMRA (British Market Research Association), which includes most sizeable research agencies. AURA (Association of Users of Research Agencies) is also vitally important, he says, as is BIG (Business and Industrial Group). It would also be appropriate to hear the views of the advertising community. The committee will be happy to hear suggestions from anyone about how the session might be run. Send all such suggestions to Curtis at TRBI. Interest in the subject of unification has been stimulated by the online poll lately conducted by mrnews.com. It will be remembered that 160 votes were cast, of which 110 (69%) favoured unification and 50 (31%) opposed it. © Market Research News 
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