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Managed Services Provider (MSP) Benchmark Study

by Sridhar Ramanathan

We are conducting research in conjunction with Untangle, an open source network gateway company and partner to MSPs nationwide, and welcome you to join in on the survey we're fielding. We're conducting this independent market research study to help new and existing MSPs learn from their peers.

Subject: Learn how Managed Services Providers (MSPs) stack up on services and pricing

Purpose: Helping new and existing MSPs learn from their peers

Topics:

• Comparison of MSP service offerings


• Benchmark on how these services are priced


• Insight into the next big offering in managed services

To find out more or to begin the survey, click here to get started:

Respondents who complete the entire survey by May 23, 2008, will receive a detailed report of the study results – valuable and strategic data to help guide and keep your MSP business on track!

About Us:
Pacifica Group, founded in 2001, is an independent consulting firm that provides a range of business strategy and marketing services including market research, market assessments, product planning and launch, channel development, and interim executive/management roles.

Posted April 24, 2008 | Permalink

SDForum Talk

by Sridhar Ramanathan

The SDForum is non-profit organization for the technology community here in Silicon Valley. I had the honor of being the guest speaker last night's SDForum Special Interest Group (SIG) for Marketing.

See abstract below. If you'd like the slide deck just click here: Download file

Continue reading "SDForum Talk"

Posted March 7, 2007 | Permalink

Farewell to Frank Ma

by Sridhar Ramanathan

Yesterday I attended the funeral of my dear friend and HP colleague, Frank Ma. He lost his battle with liver cancer leaving his friends and family still stunned that his deep courage and quiet strength weren’t enough to reverse this fatal affliction. I first met Frank over 10 years ago in the video-on-demand server business at HP---he ran engineering and I ran product marketing. He was the finest engineering manager I’ve ever met. But what I’ll remember most about Frank, besides his keen intellect and business acumen, is his very genuine care for people. For Frank, “love” was a verb not just a noun. I came home last night and gave my wife and kids extra hugs. May Frank’s example inspire us all to see that being kinder, gentler, and more loving is actually a strength. Update: Frank's school buddies in Hong Kong have setup a website. Check out the photos here.

Posted December 10, 2006 | Permalink

Call for Topics

by Sridhar Ramanathan

We want to be sure this blog offers insightful content for you. Please let us know what topics are of greatest interest to you. Generally, we cover:

• Marketing Management (product marketing, business strategy, customer research, competition)
• Web Marketing (blogging, search engine optimization, online marketing)
• Channel Development (metrics, sales ramp, organization, process and tools)
• Sales Effectiveness (sales process, tools, training, lead generation)
• Technology (enterprise software/services, open source, outsourcing)
• Leadership (executive/management practices, resource allocation, metrics)

We invite you to comment on what more you'd like to see covered.

Many thanks,
Sridhar, Elise and Al

Posted March 31, 2006 | Permalink

Welcome Sophia

by Sridhar Ramanathan

Please excuse the hiatus in my blogging entries. The good news is that my wife, Gina, and I just returned from India where we brought home our second adopted child. She's a one year old baby girl whom we’ve named Sophia. Now we’re a family of six with four kids under the age of five. Yes, vitamins and caffeine will be critical to our well being.

Posted February 7, 2006 | Permalink

Two Questions for the New Year

by Sridhar Ramanathan

Tom Peters, well known author of In Search of Excellence, has a content-rich blog. This year he kicks it off with a couple questions that he poses to his readers. See his blog entry. I slightly modify his questions for our focus on business growth and encourage you to post your thoughts:

• What's your most important business achievement last year?


• What's your most important business goal for this next year?

Posted January 3, 2006 | Permalink