How much transparency is appropriate?

The reality is that industry analyst firms are also customers. We need technology to run our business. It does not make sense for us to build it all ourselves. So, like our clients, we use packaged applications. How transparent should we be about what vendors and products we use?

It is a double-edge sword. If we say what we use, other vendors, and perhaps some of our end-user clients, will consider it an endorsement (even though it has no impact on the research). At least, it is out in the open and the various parties can draw their own conclusions. If we do not say what we use publicly, but it comes out inadvertently, then it could be viewed as trying to hide a bias (even though again, it would not be true). Even, if it does not come out inadvertently, some clients would still prefer to know and draw their own conclusions.

What do you think? Should industry analyst firms have disclosure requirements about the products they use (much like financial analysts disclose their relationships with companies they research)? Sent via Cingular Xpress Mail with Blackberry

Comments

[Doug Peterman]

Jim, I’m not in favor of disclosure. There are many very good applications in any one space and some are better than others solely on how the client operates and their philosophy of process management. Factor in cost and quality of internal IT resources and you have no one perfect solution for all companies of the same type. Staying above it all without having to defend your company’s choice is the only independent way to work.

[Jim Holincheck]

Thanks, Doug. I appreciate the input. I have been getting a mixed response in comments offline and online. I will be posting again on some of the feedback soon.

[viinnie mirchandani]

Jim, analysts should push for more transparency especially around the research socialization process, love the client inquiry stats you share etc/ But on what solutions you buy, not sure it makes a difference. yours or most vendor's internal IT is not typically world class ...also it is one data point - yours - and will be used by winning vendor to extrapolate in undefensible ways...

[Jim Holincheck]

Thanks, Vinnie. You make very good points. Customers should not use an analyst firm's choices of technology as an indicator for what would be good for their own organization.