Abstract
Key account management (KAM) is an approach to sales management in which customers with high strategic importance for a company are identified and receive particular management attention. Selecting KAs is one of the most fundamental processes in KAM. This research aims to provide a detailed understanding of the nature of KA selection. Our qualitative study shows that KA selection is not only a technical process, but has political importance for different actors in a company. Drawing on research on organizational politics and the political economy paradigm we discuss the facets of companies' internal and external power-related, political factors as well as economic, ‘rational’ elements in KA selection. We close with a discussion of implications and avenues for future research.