The rise of the pricing function: origins and perspectives

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the origins and development of the pricing function and to explore how companies are organizing for price management. Since the end of the 1990s, many companies have started initiatives towards price optimization, and moreover, have invested in pricing capabilities. The authors explain how the pricing function has evolved since then, and describe the roles and responsibilities assigned to pricing managers.Design/methodology/approach – The authors conducted an empirical qualitative research based on 28 interviews with pricing managers (analysts, directors, chief pricing officers) in large companies in France. A lexical analysis has been conducted in order to develop a typology of pricing orientations and a description of the different ways of performing the function within the company.Findings – The results describe three main stages (commodity, control, and value) corresponding to different levels of maturity of the pricing function. Many managers feel th...