ARMONK, N.Y. - 27 Apr 2012: IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced today that it has been named a leader in the IDC MarketScape Worldwide Business Consulting Services 2012 Vendor Analysis report. IBM was also the only vendor named as a leader in both the Data Center Transformation and Enterprise Architecture consulting assessments. 

According to the report, IBM is seen as the most capable of all firms at applying proven methodologies/tools and at delivering innovation in the project. IBM is also seen as the most capable of all firms at integrating its project team with the client's and at helping clients drive innovation. 

"Our assessment indicated that IBM is seen as among the most capable at providing a full spectrum of business consulting services, and among the most innovative at helping clients create a more effective business and implementing options for growth," said Cushing Anderson, author of the IDC MarketScape Worldwide Business Consulting Services report (IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Business Consulting Services 2012 Vendor Analysis, Cushing Anderson, Doc# 233425, March 2012).  

IBM's business consulting services are delivered through global practices in every major industry, as well as its industry leading Business Analytics and Optimization practice, and service lines dedicated to Strategy and Transformation consulting, Enterprise Resource Management and its Application Innovation Services practice, which includes web and interactive expertise.  

IBM's prowess in Data Center Transformation and Enterprise Architecture Consulting were also highlighted in IDC MarketScape assessments which named IBM a leader in both categories.  

According to the Data Center Transformation assessment (IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Datacenter Transformation Consulting 2012 Vendor Analysis; Ali Zaidi and Gard Little, Doc #233919,): "IBM is seen as strong in providing functional technical and industry insights, and complements its Data Center Transformation consulting services with a strong suite of infrastructure consulting offerings, and is also seen as strong at delivering innovation to clients." IBM provides Data Center Transformation consulting services across 18 vertical industries using a global delivery model.  

The IDC Enterprise Architecture MarketScape report (IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Enterprise Architecture Consulting 2012 Vendor Analysis, Ali Zaidi, Gard Little, Doc # 233918) highlights IBM's consulting capabilities in the areas of business, application, information and infrastructure architecture. The report specifically calls out IBM's innovation, breadth of skills, and methods and tools as strengths in these areas. IBM's Enterprise Architecture consulting services are handled primarily by the Technology Strategy, Business Analytics and Optimization, and Application Innovation Services groups within IBM Global Business Services. 

"These evaluations reflect the value IBM provides clients at the intersection of business strategy and IT consulting," said Marc Chapman, IBM Global Business Services Managing Partner, Strategy & Transformation. "Especially as we watch trends like big data and social media transform the nature of every CXO profession, this ability to understand what the most advanced technologies are making possible has never been more important to our clients." 

The comprehensive MarketScape Reports, which IDC has published for four years, provide an overview of the competitive fitness of Information and Communications Technology suppliers in a given market. The IDC Worldwide Business Consulting Services 2012 MarketScape report, which analyzed 10 vendors, is based on IDC analysis of IBM input and feedback from more than 300 joint IBM and IDC clients. The Data Center Transformation and Enterprise Architecture Consulting Assessments were based on evaluations of the 10 largest global IT consulting firms and eight largest enterprise architecture consulting vendors respectively. IDC analysts base individual vendor scores, and ultimately vendor positions in the IDC MarketScape reports, on detailed surveys and interviews with the vendors, publicly available information, and end-user experiences in an effort to provide an accurate and consistent assessment of each vendor's characteristics, behavior and capability.   

For more information on the IDC MarketScape Worldwide Business Consulting Services 2012 Vendor Analysis of IBM, please visit. http://idcdocserv.com/233425e_IBM

About IDC MarketScape

The IDC MarketScape vendor analysis model is designed to provide an overview of the competitive fitness of ICT (information and communications technology) suppliers in a given market. The research methodology utilizes a rigorous scoring methodology based on both qualitative and quantitative criteria that results in a single graphical illustration of each vendor's portion within a given market. IDC MarketScape provides a clear framework in which the product and service offerings, capabilities and strategies, and current and future market success factors of IT and telecommunications vendors can be meaningfully compared. The framework also provides technology buyers with a 360-degree assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of current and prospective vendors.   

About IBM

For more information on IBM Global Business Services, visit www.ibm.com/gbs