If you want to get more out of your Gartner research subscription, this book is for you Whether you are a software buyer, a large or small vendor, or are wondering how Gartner can help you make better investment decisions, this book will give you new insights to Gartner's research. By studying the methodology behind such popular analytical tools as the Magic Quadrant, you will understand how a vendor earned its rating and whether or not the ratings are justified Starting with the history of Gartner and how it compares to other IT analyst firms, this book gives a realistic assessment of the value of Gartner research to a company and provides ideas about other resources that could complement Gartner's analysis. You will also have the tools to level the playing field between large, medium and small vendors when using Gartner's analysis in selecting software. By reading this book, you will: Evaluate whether or not a Gartner subscription is of value to your company Adjust the Magic Quadrant to get a more realistic assessment of large and small vendors and their products Increase the value of your interactions with Gartner analysts Understand Gartner's biases and how Gartner makes money, and how this impacts its research results Appreciate the effects of cloud computing on Gartner, and why it matters to you Choose consulting services with confidence Assess the value of Gartner's other analytical products to your business