i don’t know how far i’d run with the analogy, but Putting people together to create new products makes some good points that an amazing number of people in technology-driven companies don’t seem to understand.
“Many companies give their marketing group responsibility for determining what people will like, but marketing must focus on customers and their purchase decisions. This differs subtly from design’s concern with users and their satisfaction. To succeed with a spaghetti sauce for children, you need marketing that will motivate adults to buy it, but designers need to give it a flavor that appeals to children. Marketing and design apply different skills to different problems.”