Gartner

Gartner is an information technology (IT) research and consultancy company, formerly known as Gartner Group.

Gartner’s corporate divisions include Research, Executive Programs, Consulting and Events. The company’s two main data visualization and analysis tools are Gartner Magic Quadrants and the hype cycle.

Gartner Magic Quadrants is a research methodology and visualization tool for monitoring and evaluating the progress and positions of companies in a specific, technology-based market. Magic Quadrants uses a two-dimensional matrix to illustrate the strengths and differences between companies. Research reports generated help investors find companies that fit their needs and help businesses compare competitors in their market.

The hype cycle is a graphical representation of the life cycle stages a technology goes through from conception to maturity and widespread adoption. The hype cycle’s stages are often used as reference points in marketing and technology reporting; businesses can use the hype cycle to guide technology decisions in accordance with their level of comfort with risk.

Gideon Gartner founded the company in 1979. Corporate headquarters are in Stamford, Connecticut. The company has additional offices elsewhere in North America and also in Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Japan. Gartner is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the stock symbol “IT.”