This IDC study analyzes the IT and business services competitive landscape by examining and comparing the top 10 service providers worldwide; it helps services players, their customers, and alliance partners differentiate the capabilities of firms that provide a wide array of offerings globally. The study looks at the performance of these firms in addition to their key growth strategies, competitive advantages, and challenges.

"The push to complete or undergo major internal makeovers and refocus their businesses was the most common strategic thread among the top 10 service providers in 2006," said Gard Little, program manager for Worldwide Services. IDC believes this trend was driven by a slowing of the industry growth rate for the second year in a row and the realization that the global sourcing movement, the push toward services standardization, and the automation of many services will change the services industry quickly and dramatically.