The media-modeling tool was kicked into high gear two years ago when Chad Jacoby, senior manager of Nissan's BusinessIntelligence Unit, used years of Nissan's consumer research to build a computer model comparing the relationship of each phase of their "purchase funnel"--from awareness to purchase consideration to a transaction--to the phase before it.
Mr. Jain's proponents point out that Mr. Buffett's effusive praise for Mr. Jain's intelligence, character and business sense outstrips the kind words he showers on any other manager.