The document discusses the marketing mix, which was first coined in 1953 by Neil Borden as a combination of marketing tools used by companies to satisfy customers and achieve goals. In 1960, E. Jerome McCarthy proposed classifying these tools into four categories - product, price, place, and promotion - which became known as the 4Ps of marketing. The 4Ps refer to the basic components of a marketing plan and include decisions about a product's benefits, pricing, distribution channels, and promotional activities.