Figuring out IT markets: How and why industry analysts launch, adjust and abandon categories. Issue 1 (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pollock, Neil; Williams, Robin; D'Adderio, Luciana
• Is Part Of: Information and organization. Volume 32:Issue 1(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: Markets -- Industry shaping -- Industry analysts -- Categories -- Organising visions; Information resources management -- Periodicals; Organizational change -- Periodicals; Information technology -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Accounting -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Management information systems -- Periodicals; Comptabilité -- Informatique -- Périodiques; Systèmes d'information de gestion -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 658.4
• DOI: 10.1016/j.infoandorg.2022.100389
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-7727

Abstract

Abstract: Despite being a source of significant change, there has been little focus on how and why industry analysts constantly launch, adjust and abandon market-defining categories. To address this issue, we investigate the Big Three industry analyst firms and find that they promote categories clients find valuable and adjust or abandon those no longer attracting attention. Bringing together insights from information systems research and category scholarship, we show that industry analysts ensure their expertise is seen as relevant to clients through material and visual processes theorised as category-work, figuring-work, and client-mapping, which together create client-induced categories'. This novel theorisation throws light on the processes market intermediaries use to align categories with client concerns and how incorporating categories in graphical figurations can intensify the cycle of category creation and abandonment. It also enhances understanding of the dynamics surrounding transitory terminologies and opens up new research opportunities for studying IT markets. Highlights: We study how industry analysts contribute to the ever-changing dynamics within the information technology industry. We explain how and why these powerful market intermediaries continuously introduce, adjust and abandon categories. We provide a practice-based perspective that reveals industry analysts align category interventions around client needs. By combining insights from Information Systems research and Category Studies, we offer new opportunities for studying IT markets.