Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Menu
Search
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications

    New Name, New Challenges

    By
    eWEEK EDITORS
    -
    January 8, 2001
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      The World Match Play golf championship began in Australia last week with a lot of familiar names—Els, Lehman, Sutton—and one unfamiliar one, an event sponsor called Accenture.

      But once a $175 million advertising blitz kicks in, the whole world will realize that Accenture is simply the new moniker for Big Five professional-services stalwart Andersen Consulting. The longtime golf sponsor left its old name behind when it officially split with its audit parent, Arthur Andersen.

      Accenture, which is meant to connote both an “accent on the future” and a spirit of adventure, enters the new millennium with immense competitive advantages. Global 2000 customers—the only IT buyers with money left to spend—want the security of an established, profitable services vendor, and Accenture already has strong ties with that client base.

      Moreover, the Web-based projects that matter are growing longer and more complex, and that plays right into Accentures strengths in project management, traditional integration skills, and employee training and retention. Longer-term engagements also help shield consultants from the inherent risks of an economic downturn.

      But for CEO Joe Forehand and company, challenges loom, apart from the immediate task of branding the new company name.

      “This is a difficult competitive climate for everybody, not just the Razorfishes,” says Rich Young, an analyst at Yankee Group. “A significant shift in demand is under way, and many large customers are asking themselves whether they need to get involved with an Accenture right now. … Its true that Accenture and KPMG and Cap Gemini E&Y are in better shape [than the start-up e-integrators], but customers are still sitting back.”

      On the plus side, however, Accenture has decades of experience navigating the business cycles, without sacrificing its culture or service quality.

      As for its much-anticipated initial public offering (IPO), Accenture partners are expected to take up that possibility at their upcoming spring meeting, according to a company spokesman. Analysts, meanwhile, advise potential investors not to hold their breath, at least until consulting valuations return to the levels of yore.

      “If you look at KPMG, which continues to pull back its [IPO] shares,” notes Young, “I think its safe to say that an Accenture IPO is not going to happen anytime soon.”

      eWEEK EDITORS
      eWeek editors publish top thought leaders and leading experts in emerging technology across a wide variety of Enterprise B2B sectors. Our focus is providing actionable information for today’s technology decision makers.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Android

      Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro: Durability for Tough...

      Chris Preimesberger - December 5, 2020 0
      Have you ever dropped your phone, winced and felt the pain as it hit the sidewalk? Either the screen splintered like a windshield being...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Why Data Security Will Face Even Harsher...

      Chris Preimesberger - December 1, 2020 0
      Who would know more about details of the hacking process than an actual former career hacker? And who wants to understand all they can...
      Read more
      Cybersecurity

      How Veritas Is Shining a Light Into...

      eWEEK EDITORS - September 25, 2020 0
      Protecting data has always been one of the most important tasks in all of IT, yet as more companies become data companies at the...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      How NVIDIA A100 Station Brings Data Center...

      Zeus Kerravala - November 18, 2020 0
      There’s little debate that graphics processor unit manufacturer NVIDIA is the de facto standard when it comes to providing silicon to power machine learning...
      Read more
      Apple

      Why iPhone 12 Pro Makes Sense for...

      Wayne Rash - November 26, 2020 0
      If you’ve been watching the Apple commercials for the past three weeks, you already know what the company thinks will happen if you buy...
      Read more

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×