Fairness is vital to our client s reputation and Pile and Company s reputation, and to arriving at the right business decision. A well-run review process reflects positively on the company. The review process itself should not be a determining factor in whether or not an agency participates in a review. Though we never forget who we work for, we are respectful of what agencies must go through to successfully pitch new business. We therefore are consistent and truthful in our agency communications, and we are clear and reasonable in our request for deliverables.
Spec assignments are a topic of some controversy in the agency industry.
From our clients perspective, there are several advantages that cannot be ignored. First, it requires that agencies think specifically about the client s business, something that is more valuable than a dozen case histories when it comes to assessing that an agency gets it . Second, it creates a meaningful forum for senior management to step back into the process after perhaps being absent since the criteria development stage. And finally, a spec round is another reason to meet the agency. It is surprising how opinions and perceptions of the contenders can change from one round to the next.