PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Philip J. Kitchen AU - Ilchul Kim AU - Don E. Schultz TI - Integrated Marketing Communications: Practice Leads Theory AID - 10.2501/S0021849908080513 DP - 2008 Dec 01 TA - Journal of Advertising Research PG - 531--546 VI - 48 IP - 4 4099 - http://www.journalofadvertisingresearch.com/content/48/4/531.short 4100 - http://www.journalofadvertisingresearch.com/content/48/4/531.full SO - J Advert Res2008 Dec 01; 48 AB - In the last 20 years, the integration of marketing functions has moved from theory to practice. Its specific applications may vary from market to market—indeed, from enterprise to enterprise—but integrated marketing communications (IMC) programs have become standard for marketing organizations, agencies, and the academic community. A review of the best IMC advertising and public relations practices in the United States, Korea, and Great Britain, however, reveals not just cultural divergence in adoption and practice, but also underlying weaknesses regarding IMC as a process and practice. The findings support the need to focus future IMC research within client organizations.