how does balance scorecard relate to strategic marketing planning? Perhaps even more relevant - does any one know of marketing departments that use this method and what are its strengths?

Simply stated the BS approach recognizes that traditional strategic planning does not focus on:

1) remaining competitive with the product and service
2) determining the resources that makes an organization succeed
3) measuring those resources and keeping them balanced so the organization will succeed.

Marketing can not do it alone. This is a total company approach. IBM uses it for themselves but it is a total company.

There is a lot of buzz words thrown around by consultants. When translated they are all simple normal business words.

I provide consulting in this field at three levels:
1) Remote with top management fast and low cost
2) On site at the strategic level with moderate cost
3) Implement company wide at high cost