Gartner's Magic Quadrant

What is Gartner's Magic Quadrant?
How to use Gartner's Magic Quadrant?
Gartner's Magic Quadrant (LINK) is a tool that one can use in researching a particular vendor offering in an industry. Gartner researchers publish their reports on key players and their product/service in four different areas- Leaders, Challengers, Niche Players and Visionaries and across two dimensions, Ability to Execute, Completeness of Vision.
Gartner defines it as a research methodology provides a graphical competitive positioning of four types of technology providers in fast-growing markets: Leaders, Visionaries, Niche Players and Challengers.

The four quadrants are represented as in a graph showing 4 areas divided by the x and y axis as shown below. The areas are shown as I, II, III, and IV. These four areas match to the Leader, Challenger, Niche Players and Visionaries. Here is a good overview of Gartner Magic Quadrant.
Quadrant (graph)                   gartner-magic-quadrant

  • Leaders Quadrant execute well against their current vision and are well positioned for tomorrow.
  • Visionaries Quadrant understand the direction the market is going or have a vision for changing market rules, but do not execute well yet.
  • Niche players Quadrant focus on a small segmented market, or do not innovate or outperform others.
  • Challengers Quadrant dominate a large segment, but do not display an understanding of the market direction.
Those with a lot of vision but not a lot of ability to execute are "visionaries," those with solid ability but not enough vision are "challengers," and those vendors that need more work across both dimensions are "niche players."

Here are two reference directly from Gartner. This provides an example of Gartner's Magic quadrant in the BI/Analytics industry and this note describes(1) how to read this Magic Quadrant.
Here is a FAQ on Magic Quadrants.
The Gartner Magic Quadrant is an analytical tool that provides a snapshot of an industry or market based on Gartner’s own research and analysis.

How to use the Gartner Magic Quadrant? is the key question and how it helps in evaluating a product or service area. Here is a quote from Richard Stiennon who was a vice president of research for Gartner from 2000-2004. "Treat the Magic Quadrant as a valuable tool but not as a crutch. Mandates like "we only buy from MQ Leaders" will not serve you well. Perhaps Gideon Gartner's original concept has withstood the test of time. Treat the Magic Quadrant as a Stalking Horse: a starting place, not an end".

(1) Biggest mistakes to avoid when reading the Magic Quadrant
(2) Understand the results of Gartner Magic Quadrant
(3) Linkedin has a article on how to read the Magic Quadrant
(4) Another how to read Magic Quadrant from Startup Factory







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