- Contents
- *Introduction
- Definitions
- Methodology
- Abbreviations
- Market positioning and issues in the market
Definitions
This report is concerned with information technology (IT) services. The market has two major elements:
IT consultancy
other information technology and computer services
IT consultancy (also called IT consulting, computer consultancy, business and technology services, computing consultancy, technology consulting, and IT advisory) is an industry that advises businesses on how best to use information technology to meet their objectives. In recent years, a specific sector of the market has arisen to address the facilities management computer services sector. More typically, the IT consultancy sector can be segmented into two separate areas: strategic advice and systems integration. Often, but not exclusively, these will be conducted in tandem during an initial contract. Subsequently, there tends to be further integration work conducted in isolation.
There is a relatively unclear line between management consulting and IT consulting. There are sometimes overlaps between the two fields, and most major international management consultancies are engaged in IT consultancy. There are, however, also specialist IT companies that are strongly active in the sector.
In addition to providing advice, IT consultancies often estimate, manage, implement, deploy, and administer IT systems on businesses' behalf; known as outsourcing. The other information technology and computer services typically incorporates one or more of:
applications
mainframe
network
desktop
distributed environment
hardware support
All values quoted are at current prices unless otherwise specified.
Methodology
Reports are researched and written by MBD’s in-house, specialist business-to-business consultants. Research is based on both an analysis of official information and on original, trade research, providing both a quantitative and qualitative view of the market. MBD’s unique range of frequently updated reports provide an integrated body of on-going research, enabling deep understanding of the prevailing trends and the drivers of these trends based on trade opinion.
Abbreviations
The following abbreviations have been used in this report:
| CIPS | Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply |
| CPI | Consumer Prices Index |
| D | Dimensional |
| EY | Ernst & Young |
| GAAP | Generally Accepted Accounting Principles |
| GDP | Gross domestic product |
| GFCF | Gross fixed capital formation |
| HP | Hewlett-Packard |
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Market positioning and issues in the market
This report addresses the following key questions:
How will the market develop over the next five years?
What will be the key market drivers?
What industries offer the best prospects?
How is the industry structured?
Which IT services will benefit most from end-use market trends?
