Final answer:
John Deere’s success is attributed to innovation and meeting customer needs with the invention of the steel plow. The company maintains brand loyalty through a robust media presence and publications, embodying its original vision through consistent pursuit of quality and innovation.
Step-by-step explanation:
John Deere's success was primarily driven by innovation and understanding the needs of its customers. Initially, John Deere, the founder, revolutionized farming with his steel plow, which efficiently broke the tough prairie soil of the Midwest without clogging. This invention met a critical need and established the foundation for the company's growth. Today, John Deere fosters brand advocacy through a strong media presence and various publications, ensuring that customers receive a consistent brand message across multiple platforms, as seen with synergistic advertising practices described by Naomi Klein.
While Klein identified the sometimes destructive impacts of corporate branding, companies like John Deere utilize branding to maintain a positive corporate image and foster loyalty among consumers. A company can strive to live up to its vision statement, and in doing so, it helps to institutionalize norms and structures within the organization, as outlined by Jill Strange and Michael Mumford. John Deere's effort to embody the vision of the original entrepreneur can be seen as an adherence to his standards of quality and innovation, ensuring that both the legacy of John Deere the person and the corporate entity continue to thrive.