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FIT (Federal IT) Buyer Journey 2022

Report

The second in our Federal Information Technology (FIT) series, Market Connections released the 2022 Buyer Journey at Government Marketing University’s GAIN conference to help government contractors understand their customer’s unique process for purchasing products and services.

From identifying their needs through the final vendor selection, this study provides key data to inform marketing, sales and product teams in strategy development around the following:

  • Who the key stakeholders are during each stage of the journey;
  • Where they are going for information during the journey; and
  • The types of information they find most valuable throughout the journey.

Whether the focus is maximizing each marketing dollar spent, developing products most aligned with customer needs, or equipping agencies with mission critical resources, this study’s results will provide the deep guidance government contractors are looking for on the right targets, avenues and formats to be focusing resources.

For the full presentation video, visit the GAIN conference site.

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It's Time to Trust AI

Real-time application observability will accelerate mission innovation

White Paper Report

Many Federal agencies are focusing on IT modernization to keep pace with the changing mission requirements and citizen demands. But one of the biggest modernization challenges program managers and mission owners face is time spent chasing problems rather than moving the mission forward. As a result, many agencies are looking to AI as the solution. AI solutions can automate manually intensive troubleshooting and get missions back on track quickly. But despite these clear benefits, agencies are still not embracing these solutions.

Recent research surveyed Department of Defense (DoD) and Civilian agency IT mission leaders about the extent to which federal technologists and
managers are aware of and have the need for application management services, their current efforts to incorporate new tools and techniques into their agencies, and their general attitudes toward using AI.

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Finding the Best Way to Securely Connect the Modern Hybrid Workforce

White Paper Infographics

The 2020 pandemic response significantly impacted the budgets of state and local governments. As a result, they’re now facing the challenges of reduced tax revenues, increased expenditures for unemployment assistance, and an increased need to deliver services digitally. For leaders in government IT, this new economic reality, as well as the historic expense of running technology in-house, is driving the move to a cloud-smart approach that can increase efficiency in both operations and budgets.

This focus is not entirely new since governments have been shifting apps (like email) to the cloud for some time. Yet it’s clear the pandemic response is accelerating the IT modernization in government that was already in process, especially in regard to facilitating a modern hybrid workforce. Equally clear is that this will impact the future of IT transformation. To learn from, and apply the results of, the government IT response over the past year, Cisco commissioned market research firm Market Connections to conduct a study.

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2020 Government Procurement Review

Challenges, Priorities, and Opportunities for Increased Efficiency

White Paper Infographics

Over the past several years, federal procurement has been undergoing a significant shift. Contracts are becoming increasingly complex. The procurement workforce is aging, yet active recruiting remains low. And several new acquisition reform initiatives have been issued in an effort to streamline processes and deliver increased visibility into acquisitions. Those in government procurement and procurement adjacent roles had been managing and adapting to these changes well—and then in March 2020, a global pandemic hit. Virtually overnight, procurement teams were forced to shift to a maximum telework environment and ramp up support for emergency requirements.

But once the initial COVID-19 response was complete, where did that leave procurement professionals in moving forward with other priorities? Akima, an Alaska Native Corporation (ANC), partnered with market research firm Market Connections to explore the specific challenges procurement professionals faced in 2020, as well as uncover their top opportunities and priorities for FY2021.

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Is Your Agency 5G Ready?

White Paper Infographics

Talk of 5G, specifically the technology that will underpin new applications and user experiences and enable a step-change in connectivity, excites everyone from tech-savvy teens to CIOs. With a promise of phenomenal mobile connectivity due to higher throughput, higher bandwidth, lower latency, better connectivity, secure information sharing and easy access to data, anything “5G” is an attention grabber.

This excitement rings especially true for military and civilian federal agencies always looking for more effective ways to fulfill their missions to protect and serve citizens in a hyper-connected world. To find out how federal agencies can harness the power and promise of 5G, CommScope commissioned market research firm Market Connections to conduct a study exploring the level of 5G awareness and preparedness within federal agencies.

Federal Media & Marketing Study 2020

2020 Federal Media & Marketing Study

12th Annual Study On-Demand Release*

Thursday, October 29, 9 AM

*Due to COVID-19 and the inability to present results in an in-person breakfast, the 2020 study results are available as an on-demand video and downloadable overview presentation.

PURCHASE ON-DEMAND VIDEO & OVERVIEW

 

ABOUT THE STUDY

In its 12th year, the Federal Media & Marketing Study continues to empower marketers to hone and perfect their strategic marketing campaigns with valuable and reliable data directly from their federal customers. The survey provides key information about the federal audience’s media usage across print, broadcast, social and digital sources. Combining this data with demographics, including job function, location, purchase area and more, marketers have the ability to slice and dice the data and map each to specific media habits, allowing them to target specific audiences.

The survey represents the views of thousands of federal workers in a variety of positions. Whether you are interested in a broad awareness campaign, or a more focused agency-based marketing effort, data from the study can provide you key insights about the media and marketing habits of this tough-to-reach federal market audience.

WHAT TO EXPECT

  • Job Function and Purchase Responsibility – More than 25 different job functions and areas of purchase, by product and service
  • Media Usage – 60+ publications, 100+ websites and mobile sites; 10+ social sites; differences inside vs. outside the Beltway
  • Trusted Content – To what extent do decision makers trust news and information from different media sources?
  • Time Spent Accessing Content – How much time do government employees spend accessing content online, watching TV, listening to the radio and reading e-newsletters?
  • Media Habits of Federal Employees: A Day in the Life – What media sources are federal employees accessing during different parts of their day?

NEW IN 2020

  • The Effects of COVID-19 – From media habits to in-person events, what should marketers know to adjust their strategies?
  • Virtual Events and Webinars – With live events on hold for the time being, when it comes to planning your virtual events, what should you take into consideration? What are feds’ preferences?
  • Teleworking and Commuting – How much are feds teleworking or commuting and how does this change their media habits?
  • Geography – Are there differences among federal employees who live and work in urban, suburban and rural environments?

(more…)

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Complex IT Environments Make Cybersecurity More Difficult for Federal, State, Local, and Education Organizations

White Paper Report Infographics

For the last six years, SolarWinds, in partnership with market research firm Market Connections, has kept a pulse on where and how cybersecurity threats most impact federal agencies. This year, state and local government and education (SLED) were added to identify similarities and differences across segments.

The SolarWinds Cybersecurity Study examines what agencies perceive as the biggest sources of threats, as well as the consequences of breaches, obstacles to achieving security, and where organizations feel vulnerable. We also ask how program maturity and compliance requirements impact cyber initiatives and explore what organizations can do to secure IT environments.

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FIT (Federal IT) Persona Study 2020:

A Deeper Look into Your Government Customer

Report Video

 

The first study release in our new Federal Information Technology (FIT) series designed to help you get closer to your federal technology customer, the FIT Personas Study highlights the different profiles of individuals that influence and make decisions for IT products and services at the federal level.

Personas have been an increasingly popular tool to identify and pinpoint specific personal and professional factors that influence the decision-making process. Combining qualitative and quantitative feedback, these results will help you understand what makes your customer tick, both personally and professionally, and provide you key insights to inform your marketing and business outreach strategy.

 

PURCHASE THE OVERVIEW RESULTS AND VIDEO PRESENTATION

Overview results presentation and video highlight some overall similarities and a few key differences among key personas in Federal IT. The overall data from the survey of 300 federal IT decision-makers and influencers is provided and highlights two personas. ($99)

Purchase Now

 

Purchase the Full Federal IT Personas Bundle

Based on quantitative and qualitative research of the federal market, Market Connections has developed ten (10) federal IT personas from defense and civilian agencies that represent IT product and service purchasing influencers and decision-makers. The personas provide information covering demographics and personality traits, preferences around learning, communication and information gathering, professional motivators and challenges, and values they look for during vendor selection. This bundle includes a download of the overview report and key takeaways. ($495)

Purchase Now

 

Purchase Agency-type Federal IT Personas Bundles (selection: Defense/Civilian)

In addition to the full Federal IT Personas bundle, Market Connections is offering specific defense/civilian agency persona bundles. Representing IT product and service purchasing influencers and decision-makers for each agency type, the report provides information covering demographics and personality traits, preferences around learning, communication and information gathering, professional motivators and challenges, and values they look for during vendor selection for five different persona types. Each bundle includes a download of the overview report and key takeaways. ($349/each)

Purchase Now

 

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Federal Media & Marketing Study 2019

Infographics Press Release

 

In its 11th year, the Federal Media & Marketing Study continues to empower marketers to hone and perfect their strategic marketing campaigns with valuable and reliable data directly from their federal customers. The survey provides key information about the federal audience’s media usage across print, broadcast, social and digital sources. Combining this data with demographics including: job function, location, purchase area and more, marketers have the ability to slice and dice the data and map each to specific media habits, allowing them to target specific audiences.

The survey represents the views of thousands of federal workers in a variety of positions. Whether you are interested in a broad awareness campaign, or a more focused agency-based marketing effort, data from the study can provide you key insights about the media and marketing habits of this tough-to-reach federal market audience.

WHAT TO EXPECT

  • Job Function and Purchase Responsibility – More than 25 different job functions and areas of purchase, by product and service
  • Media Usage – 60+ publications, 100+ websites and mobile sites; 10+ social sites; differences inside vs. outside the Beltway
  • Trusted Content -To what extent do decision makers trust news and information from different media sources?
  • Time Spent Accessing Content – How much time do government employees spend accessing content online, watching TV, listening to the radio and reading e-newsletters?

NEW IN 2019

  • Beyond Business: Expanded Demographics & Personal Decisions – Marketing to federal employees, means marketing to them as people. What does that look like? What are their personal priorities? Challenges, hopes and dreams? How can this help shape your messaging to them as an individual in addition to their profession?
  • Media Habits of Federal Employees: A Day in the Life – What media sources are federal employees accessing during different parts of their day?
  • Diving Deeper into Webinar & Event Attendance – Will the time of day impact whether they attend? How likely are they to attend and how likely are they to attend in the evening or on weekends?
  • Additional Marketing Tactics – Mobile applications, outdoor advertising and sponsorship: should contractors explore these ways of getting in front of federal audiences?

(more…)

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Federal Government Contractor Study 2018

Best BD and Marketing Practices of Winning Contractors

White Paper Report Infographics

In partnership with Merritt Group and Professional Services Council, this national study of federal government contractors focuses on top challenges and best practices of marketing and business development professionals. The study addresses the most effective activities, tools and strategies to remain competitive; the organization, reporting structure and collaboration of BD and marketing departments within an organization; and how contractors are targeting and responding to RFPs with a focus on those contractors with higher win rates. The online survey of 200 federal government contractors was fielded in May 2018.

OBJECTIVES:

  • Identify best practices of winning government contractors
  • Identify challenges of marketing and business development professionals
  • Determine actions to remain competitive in the current federal government market
  • Measure effectiveness of marketing materials, activities and tools
  • Quantify changes in budgets and activities