Atlantic-ACM
Encyclopedia
ATLANTIC-ACM is an independent research consultancy serving the telecommunications and information technology
industries. Although the firm addresses all aspects of business strategy
and publishes the telecommunications industry's sizing and market share
studies and forecasts, ATLANTIC-ACM is best-known for its Excellence Awards, which are derived from its Carrier Report Card series. The firm is based in Boston
, Massachusetts and has affiliates in more than 70 foreign markets.
) and Mercer Management Consulting. The firm planted its flag in the competitive telecommunications industry by establishing many of the then-young industry's first sizing and share forecasts. In 1997 Dr. Judy Reed Smith was listed by PHONE+ magazine
as one of the industry's 25 most influential people, citing the firm's "groundbreaking research" being published in media ranging from industry trades to the Wall Street Journal. In 2000, that same publication identified Reed Smith as a telecom industry "mastermind" and her firm as an industry "braintrust ." In 2002, Reed Smith became the first supplier member appointed to the board of directors for the Association of Communications Enterprises (ASCENT), which is now the Competitive Telecommunications Association (COMPTEL). In 2009, ATLANTIC-ACM president Fedor Smith became a featured columnist for xchange magazine.
research practice in 1995 with the launch of its first Wholesale Carrier Report Card, which was based on customer evaluations. The firm's Report Card series now includes annual studies numerous industry segments at the wholesale and retail levels. Although benchmarking represents just one segment of ATLANTIC-ACM's practice, it the area most associated with the firm because of ATLANTIC-ACM Excellence Awards, sometimes referred to as Best-in-Class awards, which are associated with its Report Card series. When major brands win them, they use these awards in public relations
, marketing and investor relations
activities.
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
industries. Although the firm addresses all aspects of business strategy
Strategy
Strategy, a word of military origin, refers to a plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal. In military usage strategy is distinct from tactics, which are concerned with the conduct of an engagement, while strategy is concerned with how different engagements are linked...
and publishes the telecommunications industry's sizing and market share
Market share
Market share is the percentage of a market accounted for by a specific entity. In a survey of nearly 200 senior marketing managers, 67 percent responded that they found the "dollar market share" metric very useful, while 61% found "unit market share" very useful.Marketers need to be able to...
studies and forecasts, ATLANTIC-ACM is best-known for its Excellence Awards, which are derived from its Carrier Report Card series. The firm is based in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts and has affiliates in more than 70 foreign markets.
History and Milestones
ATLANTIC-ACM was founded in 1991 by Dr. Judy Reed Smith, a Harvard-educated strategist who tackled her first telecommunications industry project in 1987 and worked for such consultancies as Gray Judson Howard (offshoot of Arthur D. LittleArthur D. Little
Arthur D. Little is an international management consulting firm originally headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, and formally incorporated by that name in 1909 by Arthur Dehon Little, an MIT chemist who had discovered acetate. Arthur D. Little pioneered the concept of contracted...
) and Mercer Management Consulting. The firm planted its flag in the competitive telecommunications industry by establishing many of the then-young industry's first sizing and share forecasts. In 1997 Dr. Judy Reed Smith was listed by PHONE+ magazine
PHONE+ magazine
PHONE+ is a monthly trade publication for communication distribution channels providing news and strategic information to private-label resellers, agents, brokers, VARs, systems integrators, interconnects and dealers that deliver bundled voice, data, wireless, Internet and content services, and...
as one of the industry's 25 most influential people, citing the firm's "groundbreaking research" being published in media ranging from industry trades to the Wall Street Journal. In 2000, that same publication identified Reed Smith as a telecom industry "mastermind" and her firm as an industry "braintrust ." In 2002, Reed Smith became the first supplier member appointed to the board of directors for the Association of Communications Enterprises (ASCENT), which is now the Competitive Telecommunications Association (COMPTEL). In 2009, ATLANTIC-ACM president Fedor Smith became a featured columnist for xchange magazine.
Benchmarking and ATLANTIC-ACM Excellence Awards
ATLANTIC-ACM began its benchmarkingBenchmarking
Benchmarking is the process of comparing one's business processes and performance metrics to industry bests and/or best practices from other industries. Dimensions typically measured are quality, time and cost...
research practice in 1995 with the launch of its first Wholesale Carrier Report Card, which was based on customer evaluations. The firm's Report Card series now includes annual studies numerous industry segments at the wholesale and retail levels. Although benchmarking represents just one segment of ATLANTIC-ACM's practice, it the area most associated with the firm because of ATLANTIC-ACM Excellence Awards, sometimes referred to as Best-in-Class awards, which are associated with its Report Card series. When major brands win them, they use these awards in public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
, marketing and investor relations
Investor relations
Investor Relations is a strategic management responsibility that integrates finance, communication, marketing and securities law compliance to enable the most effective two-way communication between a company, the financial community, and other constituencies, which ultimately contributes to a...
activities.