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GartnerPublicWebParticipationGuidelines
TheWebprovidesanopportunityforGartnertoexpandanddeepenourinteractionswithclients,
prospects,technologyproviders,businessleadersandthemedia.TheseguidelinesforWebParticipation
builduponlongstandingpoliciesregardingassociatespersonalconductanduponthesoundjudgment
thatweexpectourassociatestouseintheirprofessionalinteractions.
WebParticipationiscurrentlydefinedasallformsofpublicWebbasedcommunicationand
expression,suchasblogs,microblogs,linkblogs,socialnetworksites,wikis,bookmarksites,content
sharingsites(e.g.,photo,video,imageordocument),forums,mailinglists,discussiongroupsandchat
rooms.
ScopeandApplicabilityoftheseGuidelines
TheseGuidelinesapplytoallGartnerassociates,whereverlocated,includinganalystswhoparticipatein
theGartnerBloggerNetwork.TheseGuidelinesareexpectedtoguideyourbehaviorinallformsofWeb
Participation,withtheexceptionofofficialcorporatecommunications,contentpublishedthrough
standardresearchprocessesforclients,andinternalinteractions.
WhenapplyingtheseGuidelinestoyourWebParticipation,youshouldbeconsciousofthepersonain
whichyouarespeaking,especiallywhencommentingontopicsrelatedtotheinformationtechnology
industry:areyouintheprofessionalpersonaofaGartnerassociate,orthepersonalpersonaofany
memberofthepublicwhousesITproductsandservices?
YouareactinginyourprofessionalpersonaasaGartnerassociatewhen:
YouidentifyyourselfinthesocialenvironmentasaGartnerassociate,regardlessofyourroleat
Gartneror
YouoccupyaroleatGartnerresponsibleforcreatingourintellectualcapital,suchasananalyst,
consultant,executive12.10.12partnerorleadershippartner,andarecommentingonatopicrelated
toinformationtechnologyor
YouareanassociateparticipatinginanyGartnersponsoredwebproperty,includingtheGartner
BloggerNetwork.
TheseGuidelinesapplytoyouineitherpersonahowever,whenyouadoptyourprofessional
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personaontheweb,youhavearesponsibilitytoapproachsubjectsrelatedtoITinathoughtfuland
professionalmanner,asarepresentativeofGartner.Associateswhocreateourintellectualcapital,
includinganalysts,consultants,executivepartnersandleadershippartners,haveaheightened
responsibilitytorepresenttheCompanysapprovedresearchpositionsonITsubjects.
Summary
Youmaynotinitiateormaintainapersonalblog,socialnetworkdiscussiongroup,orotherinternet
sitethatdiscussesorrelatestoGartner,ourbusiness,ortotheinformationtechnologyindustry.
AllGartnerpoliciesapply,andshouldbefollowed,inyourconductandactivitiesontheWeb.
Thinkbeforeyoupostusesoundjudgmentandthinkaboutreactionstoyourpostbeforeyoupost
it.
Respectyouraudienceavoidnegativepersonalcommentsorinflammatorysubjects.
HaveproductiveconversationsifyouareananalystpostingontheGartnerBloggerNetwork,or
simplyparticipatinginanotherITforumrememberthattheprimarybenefitofWebParticipation
isforotherstolearnaboutGartnerandforGartnertolearnfromothers.
DontgiveawaythefarmifyouareaGartneranalyst,Consultant,LeadershipPartneror
ExecutivePartner,dontpostthekindofinformationandadviceforwhichclientspayGartner.
ProtectandenhancethevalueoftheGartnerbrand:PresentGartnerinapositivelightandavoid
makingderogatorycommentsaboutGartner,ourproducts,services,management,employees,or
systems.DonotcreateaGartnerbrandedsocialmediaprofileinthepublicdomainwithout
approvalfromCorporateMarketing.
Respectconfidentiality:ProtectGartnersandourclientsconfidentialinformation.
Bepersonableandhavefun:Webparticipationisaboutenjoyingpersonalinteractions,not
deliveringcorporatecommunications.
Beconsciousofpersona:KnowthatwhenyouarerepresentingGartnerormaybeperceivedas
such,youareexpectedtopostasaprofessional,incompliancewiththeseGuidelines.
DontengageindebatesdefendingpublishedGartnerresearchAnalystsmayclarifyresearch
positionsbutshouldnotengageinpublicdebatesdefendingpublishedGartnerresearch.
ComplywithallApplicableLaws:WhenengaginginWebParticipation,youareexpectedto
respectandadheretoallapplicablelawsandregulations.
Publicity:Referallrequestsforinterviewsorcommentsfromthemediatopublicrelations.
DetailedDiscussion
1.PersonalBlogs
WhileGartnersponsoredWebproperties,suchastheGartnerBloggerNetwork,aretheofficially
sanctionedmeansbywhicheligibleassociatesmayinitiateormaintainaWebpresenceonITsubjects,
theCompanyrecognizesthatapersonalWebpresence(suchasapersonalblog,Facebookpage,or
Facebookgroupdiscussionboard)mayalsobeappropriateandbeneficial.Regardlessofyourroleat
Gartner,youmaynotinitiateormaintainapersonalblog,socialnetworkdiscussiongroup,orother
internetsitethatdiscussesorrelatestoGartner,ourbusiness,ortotheinformationtechnologyindustry.
Youarefree,however,topublishyourownblogsontopicsofpersonalinteresttoyouthatdonot
concernGartnerortheITindustry.
2.AllGartnerpoliciesapply.
ThepoliciesthatapplytoassociateconductingeneralapplytoWebParticipationaswell,whetherornot
yourpostingsareaboutGartner,ourbusinessorinformationtechnology.KnowandfollowallGartner
policies,includingourCodeofConduct.
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3.Thinkbeforeyoupost.
Usesoundjudgmentandthinkaboutreactionstoyourpostbeforeyoupostit.Rememberthatwhatever
youpostmayliveformanyyearsontheWeb,evenifyoudeleteyourcopyofit.Avoidpostinginthe
heatofthemoment,especiallyinadiscussionthatisescalatingintoaflamewar.Askyourself,Isthis
issuebetterhandledbyanotherpartofGartner,suchasResearchmanagement,theOmbudsmanorPR?
4.Respectyouraudience.
Avoidslurs,personalattacksorinsults,obscenity,etc.,andtopicsthatmaybeconsideredobjectionable
orinflammatorysuchastopicsintheareasofpoliticsandreligion.Showproperconsiderationfor
othersprivacy,andavoidpickingfights.Bethefirsttocorrectyourownmistakes,andbeconstructive
andrespectfulifcorrectingothers.
5.Haveproductiveconversations.
WhenactinginyourprofessionalpersonaasaGartnerassociate,rememberthattheprimarybenefitof
WebParticipationisforotherstolearnaboutGartnerandforGartnertolearnfromothers.WhileitisOK
tooffercriticism,thiscriticismshouldbeconstructiveandnevermeanspirited,andshouldnotinvolve
accusationsofwrongdoingorimproperconduct.Findoutwhoelseisbloggingonthetopic,andlinkto
them.IfGartnerhasrelevantresearchonthetopic,linktoit(evenifitisjusttheabstract).Trytoadd
value.Provideworthwhileinformation(getyourfactsstraight)andperspective(beconstructive).Test
yourideasandmoveresearchforwardwhileavoidingdirectdisagreementwithpublishedresearch.
Remember,ifapostinggeneratesarequestfromatechnologyproviderforabriefing,ajournalistforan
interview,oraclientorprospectforaninquiry,routeitthroughnormalGartnerchannels.
6.Dontgiveawaythefarm.
DontpostthekindofinformationandadviceforwhichclientspayGartner.Thisincludesthepostingof
documents,suchasresearchdocumentsandpresentations,aswellasspecificinformation,suchas
analysis,recommendationsandpredictions.AsGartnerassociates,wewantclientstopayusfor
information.Atthesametime,associateswhocreateGartnersresearchcontent(e.g.,analysts,
consultants,ExecutivePartners,LeadershipPartners)maywanttoparticipateinWebconversations
aboutITwhichmeansexchanginginformationandopinionaboutIT.Toensureyouarentdivulging
toomuchinformation,bethoughtfulaboutwhatinformationyoupostandhowyourespondtofeedback.
Askyourself:Isthisthekindofinformationthatourclientsnormallypayusfor?Iftheansweris
YesorevenPerhaps,thenconferwithotherGartnercolleaguesbeforeposting.EspeciallywithIT
subjects,focusonopeningadialogaroundtopicstoenhanceawarenessofthetopic,togainconstructive
feedbackfromthebroaderITcommunity,andtobuildawarenessofGartneractivitiesandresearch.
7.ProtectandenhancethevalueofGartnersbrand.
PresentGartnerinapositivelightandavoidmakingderogatorycommentsaboutGartner,ourproducts,
services,management,employeesorsystems.AlthoughthisisalreadycoveredbytheGartnerCodeof
Conduct,itisworthhighlightingexplicitlyinthecontextofWebparticipation.Ifyouareananalyst
postingonatopicrelatedtoIT,tominimizetheriskthatyourindividualpostisperceivedasaGartner
vettedresearchposition,youshouldmakeitclearthatyouarepostingasanindividualanalyst.Usea
disclaimersuchas:ThispostismyindividualopinionanddoesnotnecessarilyrepresentaGartner
vettedresearchposition.
WhenpostingaboutITrelatedissuesitisinevitableindeedhealthyforcontrarypointsofviewto
bedebatedanddiscussed.Itisinevitablethatan
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12.10.12individualassociatespostaboutanITsubjectmayoccasionallybeviewedasrepresentingor
contradictingGartnersofficialpositiononasubject,asestablishedbyGartnerResearch.However,itis
neverappropriatetointentionallydisparageorcontradictpublishedGartnerresearch.Ifsuchapost
actuallygeneratescontroversyorconfusion,theassociateshouldpostasquicklyaspossiblea
clarificationthatresolvestheissue.Becarefulwhenbloggingaboutvendors.Donotcreateanewand
previouslyunstatedposition(s)onavendor,vendoractionorproduct.Thismustbecreatedthroughthe
Gartnerofficialresearchprocessfirst.
DonotcreateaGartnerbrandedsocialmediaprofileinthepublicdomainwithoutapprovalfrom
CorporateMarketing.Creationofthesepagesdetractsfromourcorporateprofilesanddilutesthevalue
oftheGartnerbrand.TherewouldbeahighrisktotheCompanytohaveaccountsbrandedasGartner
withnodocumentedorassignedcontrol,governance,standardsorongoingmanagement.Wewantour
clientsandprospectstobeabletoeasilyidentifyandfollowourcorporatesocialprofiles.
8.Protectconfidentialinformation.
ProtectGartnersandourclientsconfidentialinformation.Informationthatwewouldnotpublicly
discloseinourresearchduetoconfidentialityconcernsshouldnotbedisclosedordiscussedontheWeb.
Also,becauseweareapubliccompany,dontdiscloseordiscussGartnersrevenues,futurebusiness
plansorshareprice.Ifindoubt,gainpermissionpriortopostingonmattersthatmightbeprivateor
internaltoGartner.
9.Bepersonableandhavefun.
Webparticipationisaboutenjoyingpersonalinteractions,notdeliveringcorporatecommunications.
Alwaysidentifyyourself.Writeinthefirstperson.IfyourWebparticipationfeelslikework,youre
probablydoingtoomuchofitanditslikelytointerferewithyourworkatGartner.Abigpartofthe
Webexperienceisthatitismoreplayfulthanmostothermedia.YourWebparticipationshouldreflect
thischaracteristic.Themostsuccessfulblogsarethosewithaninformalandhumorousstyle.ItsOK
somemightsaymandatorytopokefuninWebpostings,butkeepinmindthatsuchhumorshould
alwaysbeappropriateandshouldstimulatediscussion,notstifleit.
10.Beconsciousofpersona.
Personaistheroleyouareplayingwhenparticipatingontheweb.Youmayadoptthepersonaofa
Gartnerassociateorapersonalpersonaunconnectedtoyourprofessionalworklife.Itisimportantfor
associatestorecognizethedifference,andtobecarefulwhencrossingfromonepersonatotheotherin
anyparticularsocialenvironment.Wheneverandwhereveryouactinyour12.10.12professionalpersona
asaGartnerassociate,bemindfulthatyouwillbeperceivedasrepresentingtheCompany,andmustact
thoughtfullyandprofessionallyatalltimes.
11.DontengageindebatesdefendingpublishedGartnerResearch.
AssociatesareencouragedtoengageinthesocialWebaroundresearchissuesandexchangediffering
pointsofview.IfpublishedGartnerresearchisdisputedonthesocialWeb,associatesshouldinformthe
Ombudsmansofficeandrefrainfromengaginginpublicdebates.Useyourbestjudgmentindiscussing
andclarifyingpublishedresearch.WhileGartnerstrivesfortransparencyinourresearchmethodologies,
thereareaspectsofourmethodologiesthatareproprietaryandarenotintendedforpublicdissemination.
Therefore,analystsshouldnotpubliclyexplainorclarifyGartnerresearchmethodology.Thisistherole
oftheOmbudsmansoffice.
12.ComplywithApplicableLaws.
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WhenengaginginWebParticipation,youareexpectedtorespectandadheretoallapplicablelawsand
regulationsincludingthoseconcerningFinancialReporting,InsiderTrading,Antitrust,Copyright,Anti
BriberyandDataProtection.
13.Publicity.
Remember,ifapostinggeneratesarequestfromatechnologyproviderforabriefing,ajournalistforan
interview,oraclientorprospectforaninquiry,routeitthroughnormalGartnerchannels.Forward
BecomeaClient
requestsformediainterviewstothepublicrelationsteam.
TalktoGartnernowandlearnthebenefitsofbecomingaGartnerClient
GartnerreservestherighttomonitorWebParticipationbyourassociates,includingsocialnetworking
sites,toensurecompliancewiththeseguidelines.ViolationsoftheseGuidelinesmayresultin
HOWWECANHELP
disciplinaryaction,uptoandincludingterminationofemployment.

TRENDINGTOPICS
Trends&Predictions
Mobile
BigData
InformationSecurity
ITCostOptimization
DigitalMarketing

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