This is something that always frustrated me about the analyst companies. It is a closed (and from my view at least) pay-for-play kind of world.

I think that perhaps the analysts are being dis-intermediated by the internet, just as brand marketers are being dis-intermediated.

It has not happened quite as quickly, but for example my passion is windsurfing. Believe it or not, windsurfing is a highly technical sport, and getting good information about products and technique are critical. We used to get this information from the manufacturers and the industry trade magazines. No longer. We now get this information from each other.

The internet has enabled us to find each other and share impressions, recommendations and experience. We don’t need the manufacturers or the mags any more as a source of information.

Above is a micro-example of brand/marketer dis-intermediation - and it is happening at breakneck pace across all kinds of consumer products. Cellphones, digi cams, cars, pharma, etc.

Now, can this happen in HCM Software/Service space? Yes - and I think an analyst group with an open architecture and un-packaged community features has a GREAT future.

Good Luck -

TO’B

Hope to see you in Boston next month. S

The inherent problem with the IT research business is the simple fact that in past years (Gartner’s heyday), research always thrived on innovation. IT was sparkling new and exciting, people always wanted to read and learn, and there was real passion and energy in the industry. And then the internet came along to really drive things forward. Nowadays, however, IT has become a lot more sophisticated and mainstream, the users have become a lot more savvy, and the analysts are struggling to stay ahead of them in terms of real practical experience. I mean, how can someone who’s been in Gartner (or Forrester, AMR etc) for 15 years and hasn’t tinkered with a piece of software since the early ’90s (or ever) really enlighten his or her clients that much these days? These quadrants are easy ways to make money - from the vendors - and it seems like the users just don’t place as much importance on them these days. On the flip side, vendors need tools to market their wares and these analyst firms provide the vehicle. Moreover, most of these large analyst houses are publicly-traded entities and need to achieve quarterly P&L targets, and they’ll resort to the quickest way to do it. Maybe if they went private and knuckled down to a long-term plan like the one you suggest, things will revert to the way they were…who knows?

It is interesting to see the discussion in the comments about the disintermediation of Gartner (and other analyst firms) by what is available on the internet. At the end of the day, I believe (this is my own personal opinion) that IT buyers want and need trusted advisors to help them make decisions. Will bloggers and communities become the new trusted advisors? Yes, it probably will in some cases (there are many knowledgeable bloggers out there already). However, one of the unique things about an industry analyst is the number and variety of inputs that they get from both end users and vendors. In addition, the industry analyst firms provide “one-stop shopping” for a breadth and depth of trusted advisors that is hard for other approaches to meet, especially for a CIO or other senior executive.

Jim, their is no question regarding the value you provide to clients, both vendors and enterprises. I personally see it all of the time. I would argue, though, that you are one of only a few remaining “stars”, (as ex-Gartner analyst Brian Sommer describes), in Gartner’s stable.

Cheers,
Jason