More on the industry analyst conundrum….
Further to my earlier piece on industry analysts, the Wall Street Journal has a story today entitled “Glowing Report on Firm X Isn’t What You Might Think” (Subscription Required). The piece deals with paid research reports. However I think Lee Gomes (the author) is barking up the wrong tree. Vendors have been paying analyst firms to write research reports for years. There’s no hidden agenda here.
The real issue is the firms that HAVE a hidden agenda, who make decisions purely based on dollars – and that’s clearly NOT the case with firms in this piece. The issue is where an ‘analyst’ will only take a briefing if you pay. I’d love to name and shame those firms. They are all tiny. The established firms named in the WSJ have some of the best analysts on their books and they offer above board services – they are not the main issue IMHO – and my company doesn’t buy those services.
Murphy's Law 