Which of the following is NOT an element of the marketing mix?

The marketing mix traditionally consists of four key elements: product, price, promotion, and place—often referred to as the "4 Ps" of marketing. Each of these elements plays a crucial role in determining how a product is positioned in the market and how it reaches consumers.

Price relates to the amount of money consumers must pay to acquire a product, and it can significantly influence demand. Promotion encompasses all the strategies used to communicate with potential customers about the product, including advertising, sales promotions, and public relations. Place refers to the distribution channels and locations where the product is available for purchase, impacting accessibility for consumers.

Marketing information systems, while important in the broader context of marketing strategy, serve to gather and analyze data to support decision-making. They are tools used to inform marketers about market trends, consumer behavior, and other analytics crucial for shaping a marketing strategy, but they are not one of the foundational elements that comprise the marketing mix itself. Thus, this choice correctly identifies something that is outside the core concept of the marketing mix.