PP&A Case Study
Strategic Insights Drive High-Impact IT Service Management (ITSM) Partnership
Leveraging Market Research to Enhance Investment Decisions and Strengthen Strategic Value
Client Situation

A Fortune-listed technology company's investment arm sought to deepen its partnership with an IT Service Management (ITSM) provider through potential investment or acquisition. The client aimed to:

  • Understand how to provide additional strategic value beyond financial investment
  • Support the ITSM company with strategic and operational improvements
  • Gain deeper insights than those available from third-party analyst reports
  • Address underperformance in specific geographies, particularly the Central United States
Our Approach

PP&A developed a comprehensive market survey targeting executives at large organizations in the central United States. The strategy included assessing performance along five key ITSM service areas:

  1. Operations management
  2. Service management
  3. Asset management
  4. Project portfolio management
  5. Team functionality

The survey process involved identifying IT executives and decision-makers who had previously used and discontinued, or evaluated but not selected, the target ITSM company's services. Respondents were carefully selected based on criteria such as company revenue, industry, business type, and concurrent ITSM users. The survey evaluated the importance of each service area and the company's performance versus competitors. Additionally, business line-specific deep dives were conducted to diagnose factors leading to discontinuation or non-selection of the ITSM company's services.

Client Results

The comprehensive market survey provided the client with actionable insights into the ITSM provider’s performance from the perspective of potential customers. Key findings included:

  • Identification of the most valued ITSM service areas by potential customers
  • A clear understanding of the ITSM provider’s weaknesses compared to competitors, particularly in underperforming geographic regions
  • Data-driven recommendations on how the client could adjust their value proposition to address these weaknesses and create a more compelling partnership offer for the ITSM provider

Armed with these insights, the client approached the ITSM provider with a strategic partnership proposal that demonstrated not only an understanding of their market challenges but also offered specific solutions to address them. This led to a more targeted and effective approach, ultimately enhancing the likelihood of a successful partnership.

Key Takeaways
  1. In-depth market research can reveal critical insights beyond standard industry reports
  2. Understanding customer priorities and perceptions is crucial for strategic partnerships
  3. Targeted geographical analysis can uncover specific improvement opportunities
  4. A data-driven approach strengthens value propositions in partnership negotiations
  5. Addressing identified weaknesses can lead to improved market performance and customer retention

Ready to unlock strategic value in your next investment or partnership? Contact PP&A today to leverage our market research and strategic analysis expertise for your business success.

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About PP&A

At PP&A, we are dedicated to empowering businesses to excel through strategic innovation. We integrate deep industry insights with comprehensive analytics to develop bespoke solutions that propel growth and enhance performance. Our services encompass a broad spectrum, including:

  • Strategic Research
  • Business Strategy
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Technology Solutions
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