Research Project Title: IT Facilities

Client :  Bull Information Systems, Dublin

Study Background

Bull Information Systems (Bull IS) is one of the largest computer manufacturers in Europe.  Bull IS has been operating in Ireland for the past twenty-five years.  Bull IS made a strategic decision to focus on the non-hardware aspects of information technology.  To succeed in this arena, the management needed to understand the management of organisation’s attitudes towards outsourcing IT functions and software applications.  Further information was required to assess the potential market for outsourcing and a general audit on IT equipment

Objective

• Audit of hardware
• Identification of current and future outsourcing of IT activities and software applications
• Collect general information to aid the selling process

Length of Questionnaire

• Excludes demographic questions
• 52 questions (includes 3 questions with sub-questions)
• 30 questions minimum (includes 3 questions with sub-questions)
• 47 questions maximum (includes 3 questions with sub-questions)
• Average length of time with respondent – 15.5 minutes

Collection Method

Data was collected using in-house computer aided telephone interviewing unit

Field Research Time

10 Days

Sample Size

1,000 respondents

Quota controls imposed of

• 500 in Republic of Ireland
• 500 in Northern Ireland

Sample

The sample was based on companies with more than 4 computers per ten employees and was representative of the number and size of companies in 15 key sectors.  The sample was selected through the use of profiling and in-house research.

Respondent Screening

Respondent screened to ensure that they are responsible for IT in the Company (respondents were mainly IT Director or IT Manager)

Confidence Level

+/- 5%

Analysis

Data was analysed using Access and SPSS

Deliverables

Report covering the following:

• Results for each question
• Cross tabulation of questions by sector where appropriate
• Data tables

Publication of Results

Results from this survey were published in a number of business publications including Sunday Business Post, Business Plus and Business and Finance.