Alternatives: Survey Methodology

VARBusiness’ 2006 Alternatives and Emerging Vendors/Products first annual survey examines emerging technology vendors and product trends, how these new technologies impact businesses and partner relationships, and solution providers' risk-tolerance level regarding partnering with vendors that don't dominate their given markets.

More specifically, by alternative/emerging vendors we are referring to second- and third-tier vendors that are not within the top ranks of market share. Please note: This survey focuses only on hardware technologies and solution-provider interactions with these alternative vendors.

VARBusiness designed the survey, which was then conducted on the Web from Nov. 21, 2005, to Dec. 8, 2005, using Insight Express, an online market research firm. Next, VARBusiness partnered with Answers Research, a Solana Beach, Calif.-based business intelligence and market research firm, to review the questionnaire, process the data and analyze the findings.

Survey respondents are IT solution providers, the majority of whom are IT decision-makers at the executive, corporate and technical-management levels within the channel community.

Survey participants were obtained from the CMP Channel Group circulation database of channel firms. A total of 317 respondents completed this survey, yielding a margin of error +/- 5.5% at a 95 percent confidence interval.