Businessweek

Gartner, Inc. operates as an information technology (IT) research and advisory company. The company delivers the technology-related insight necessary for its clients to make the right decisions, every day. The company works with clients to research, analyze and interpret the business of IT within the context of their individual roles. As of December 31, 2012, the company had 5,468 associates, including 1,405 research analysts and consultants, and clients in 85 countries. Strategy The company’s long-term strategy is to increase business volume with its most valuable clients, identifying relationships with the greatest sales potential and expanding those relationships by offering strategically relevant research and advice. It also seeks to extend the Gartner brand name to develop new client relationships, augment its sales capacity, and expand into new markets worldwide. Segments The company’s segments include Research, Consulting, and Events: RESEARCH Research provides objective insight on critical and technology and supply chain initiatives for CIOs, other IT professionals, supply chain leaders, technology companies and the investment community through reports, briefings, proprietary tools, access to its analysts, peer networking services and membership programs that enable its clients to make decisions about their IT and supply chain investments. The company delivers independent, objective IT research and insight primarily through a subscription-based, digital media service. Gartner Research is the fundamental building block for all Gartner services and covers all technology-related markets, topics and industries, as well as supply chain topics. The company combines its proprietary research methodologies with industry and academic relationships to create Gartner solutions that address each role within an IT organization. The company’s Research agenda is defined by clients’ needs, focusing on the critical issues, opportunities and challenges they face every day. Its Research analysts are in regular contact with both technology providers and technology users, enabling them to identify the most pertinent topics in the IT marketplace and develop relevant product enhancements to meet the evolving needs of users of its research. They provide in-depth analysis on all aspects of technology, including hardware; software and systems; services; IT management; market data and forecasts; and vertical-industry issues. The company’s proprietary research content, presented in the form of reports, briefings, updates and related tools, is delivered directly to the client’s desktop through its Website and/or product-specific portals. Clients normally sign subscription contracts that provide access to the company’s research content for individual users over a defined period of time, which is typically one year. CONSULTING Consulting provides customized solutions to client needs through on-site, day-to-day support, as well as proprietary tools for measuring and improving IT performance with a focus on cost, performance, efficiency, and quality. Gartner Consulting deepens relationships with the company’s Research clients by extending the reach of its research through custom consulting engagements. The company’s consultants provide fact-based consulting services to help clients use and manage IT to optimize business performance. Consulting solutions capitalize on Gartner assets that are invaluable to IT decision making, including its extensive research, which ensures that its consulting analyses and advice are based on a deep understanding of the IT environment and the business of IT; its market independence, which keeps its consultants focused on its client’s success; and its benchmarking capabilities, which provide relevant comparisons and best practices to assess and improve performance. Gartner Consulting provides solutions to CIOs and other IT executives, and to those professionals responsible for IT applications, enterprise architecture, go-to-market strategies, infrastructure and operations, programs and portfolio management, and sourcing and vendor relationships. Consulting also provides targeted consulting services to professionals in specific industries. Finally, the company provides actionable solutions for IT cost optimization, technology modernization and IT sourcing optimization initiatives. EVENTS Events provide IT, supply chain and business professionals the opportunity to attend various symposia, conferences and exhibitions to learn, contribute and network with their peers. From the company’s primary event Symposium/ITxpo, to summits focused on specific technologies and industries, to experimental workshop-style seminars, its events distill the latest Gartner research into applicable insight and advice. Gartner Symposium/ITxpo events and Gartner Summit events are gatherings of technology’s most senior IT professionals, business strategists and practitioners. Gartner Events offers relevant and actionable technology sessions led by Gartner analysts to clients and non-clients. These sessions are augmented with technology showcases, peer exchanges, analyst one-on-one meetings, workshops and keynotes by technology’s top leaders. They also provide attendees with an opportunity to interact with business executives from the technology companies. Gartner Events attract high-level IT and business professionals who seek in-depth knowledge about technology products and services. Gartner Symposium/ITxpo events are large, strategic conferences held in various locations throughout the world for CIOs and other senior IT and business professionals. Gartner Summit events focus on specific topics, technologies and industries, providing IT professionals with the insight, solutions and networking opportunities to succeed in their job role. Finally, the company offers targeted events for CIOs and IT executives, such as CIO Leadership Forum. History Gartner, Inc. was founded in 1979.