Alignment measures whether leadership expectations match the resources provided. It considers goals, authority, team structure, budget, and the level of cross-functional support needed to deliver on expectations. High alignment means marketing isn’t being set up to fail. The role is scoped realistically, and the company being rated aligns support with expectations.

Culture reflects how marketing is treated, trusted, and integrated within the organization. It tells you whether marketing is seen as a strategic contributor or an order-taking service function. Strong culture shows up in cross-functional respect, psychological safety, transparent decision-making, and shared accountability when things get tough. When culture is healthy, marketing can lead with clarity, collaborate without conflict, and operate without being positioned as the default place to assign blame.

Willingness to Invest evaluates whether the company backs its expectations with real, long-term commitment. This includes budget, tools, headcount, and data access, but also the deeper investments that signal strategic maturity: product innovation, brand building, enablement, and career development. High investment means the company is building sustainable growth, not demanding results without the foundation to achieve them.