Research & Consulting Engagements

The following represents a partial list of successfully completed consulting and research engagements.  The list is representative of the kinds of work requested by HRG’s clients

For an application software developer : Researched the enterprise risk management market (ERM) through primary interviewing and developed assessments of client needs with recommendations for BI (business intelligence) applications in this market.

For a computer manufacturer : Developed a case study of a complex transition to an SOA environment by the manufacturer's client. This included an environment based on SAP and legacy applications.

For a High Performance Computing start-up : Did due diligence and market analysis to support company's second round

For a data base software company: Through primary interviewing, analyzed the company's customer base  to understand their likes and dislikes of the data base software product and offered specific recommendations for improvement of the software as well as company business practices.

For a major software company: Researched and developed several papers focused on how the company addressed new computer technologies such as virtualization and Cloud Computing as well as emerging software licensing business practices.

For a major computer manufacturer: Performed detailed competitive research on Linux-based environments and provided both strategic and tactical recommendations for addressing the competition including opportunities outside the US

For a computer manufacturer:  Based on survey responses from more than 500 data center managers in small- to medium-sized high-growth companies, HRG completed a study of installed product and planned purchases of devices such as servers and printers commonly attached to Local Area Networks (LANs).  Also examined were brand/product, distribution channel, and feature/function preferences and levels of satisfaction.

For a computer manufacturer:  Comparative analysis of the leading Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) products, including information obtained from vendors and users.

For a computer component manufacturer:  Based on in-depth interviews with senior executives, HRG completed a study of potential distribution channels to determine  financial suitability, demand requirements, and profit potential.

For a developer of system software:  Based on interviews with Information System (IS) directors at leading Fortune 1,000 companies, HRG completed a study of requirements  and methodology for managing UNIX systems from the Data Center.

For a vendor of software for process manufacturing:  Based on survey responses from more than 300 manufacturing IS managers, HRG completed a study of opportunities for MRP applications in process industries.

For A reseller of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs):  Based on survey responses from IS managers at banks, we completed a study of user needs and satisfaction regarding maintenance and maintainability of ATMs.

For a computer manufacturer:  Developed sales training material on competitive offerings and the competitive sales motion in targeted industries.

For a computer manufacturer:  Pre-announcement review and critique including report, recommendations; rewrite/edit of announcement package.

Discounting Practices:  Analysis of discounting practices of Distributors and VARs for selected products.

SMP Comparative Analysis: Comparative analysis of leading Intel based SMP offerings.

Highly Available Solutions:  Comparative analysis of Highly Available Solutions offerings of selected vendors.

Server Pricing:  Server  pricing study based on most likely initial system configurations and vendor discounting practices.

Highly Available solutions market:  Highly Available Solutions - Market sizing, analysis and technical discussion.

UNIX and NT SMPS:  Market sizing of the number of processors currently deployed on SMP capable platforms running UNIX and WindowsNT. 

High Availability Systems - End user survey:  Survey of more than 250 self proclaimed users of Highly Available Systems.  Issues examined included unmet user requirements, satisfaction with providers, loyalty to providers, cost of downtime, and planned spending.

Installed Platforms:  The study, based on more than 200 interviews, examined such issues as: satisfaction with the installed platform, satisfaction with the incumbent vendor, service, and support.  The study also explored the major motivations either to stay with the installed platform or to move to a more open platform.

Client/Server LAN administration:  Examined more than 100 sites and their movement or lack of movement to a Windows-based Client /Server solution.  Additionally, HRG examined  the amount of time and money spent by each site on LAN administration and management.

LAN administration and e-mail cost of ownership:  Examined the cost of ownership of Email in terms of LAN and Email administration based on an in-depth analysis of the amount of time and money spent for specific, relevant tasks at more than 200 selected Fortune 1,000 companies.

Printers:  Identified user preferences at both product and feature/function levels as well as planned purchases and spending for more than 250 end user sites.

Real-time computer requirements:  Determined what was required, vs nice to have, based on discussions with selected Real Time Computer users for characteristics such as features, functions and price performance.  Vendor loyalty and satisfaction with service and support were also explored.

Market opportunities for embedded processors:  An examination of multiple industries and potential distribution channel partners to determine user requirements for embedded CPUs.