Booz Allen Hamilton and HI Europe to Manage International Benchmarking Study on Use of ICTs for the DTI

London, 9 April, 2003: Booz Allen Hamilton and HI Europe have been awarded a contract by the Department of Trade and Industry to manage the international benchmarking study called "Business in the Information Age" for publication in the autumn of 2003. The study will investigate the awareness, usage, deployment and benefits of technology in business, comparing the UK to 10 other leading world economies. The study includes an extensive interviewing programme amongst more than 7,000 ICT decision-makers across the globe, along with an assessment of the government policy, strategic and cultural environments impacting ICT usage.

Building on earlier work conducted by HI Europe with the DTI, a new model has been developed to benchmark the UK’s performance as well as help inform the UK government’s strategy surrounding the development of policies that encourage more effective use of ICTs. This year, the study will be extended to include South Korea, the world’s leader in broadband penetration, providing additional insights into the availability of broadband as a driver of e-business.

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Liz Grant, director of e-policy and delivery at the DTI said: "There is no doubt that effective usage and deployment of technology is a key way for companies to gain competitive advantage. The UK government understands this and will continue to develop policies that support a more integrated use of technology by UK businesses. This independent benchmarking study will allow us to monitor progress against targets and to continue developing policies that help UK businesses maximise the enormous potential of technology."

The HI Europe/Booz Allen Hamilton strategic alliance combines high quality international market research in the technology sector with consultative insights and proven impact on government policy making.

HI Europe—formerly Total Research and its combined companies—is a market research and consulting firm known for its expertise in strategic business and consumer research, particularly in the IT and telecom industries. HI Europe plays a major role in solving its clients' complex business problems through thoughtful application of innovative methodologies and sophisticated technologies, focusing on those that are Internet-based. Headquartered in London, HI Europe is a subsidiary of US-based Harris Interactive^®, one of the world’s largest market research companies, known for its pioneering use of the Internet to conduct scientifically accurate market research.

HI Europe conducted the international benchmarking study, "Business in the Information Age," on behalf of the DTI from 2000 to 2002. The Company’s Technology Practice provides international market research services to businesses and government in the high technology sector.

Further information about HI Europe may be found at www.hieurope.com.

Booz Allen Hamilton has conducted many benchmarking studies on behalf of commercial and government clients. The international e-Economy benchmarking study, "The world’s most effective policies for the e-Economy" was launched at the UK government’s e-Summit in November 2002.

Booz Allen Hamilton has been at the forefront of management consulting for businesses and governments for more than 80 years. Booz Allen combines strategy with technology and insight with action, working with clients to deliver results today that endure tomorrow. With 11,000 employees on six continents, the firm generates annual sales of $2 billion. Booz Allen provides services in strategy, organization, operations, systems, and technology to the world's leading corporations, government and other public agencies, emerging growth companies, and institutions.

To learn more about the firm, visit the Booz Allen Web site at www.boozallen.com. To learn more about the best ideas in business, visit www.strategy-business.com, the website for strategy+business, a quarterly journal sponsored by Booz Allen.

Booz Allen Hamilton
Amanda Honley
honley_amanda@bah.com
020 7393 3370
m.07900163370

HI Europe
Marek Vaygelt
mvaygelt@hieurope.com
01628 689755
m.07718587667