John T. McArthur
Program Director, Storage Systems ,  International Data Corporation

John McArthur is the Director of IDC?s Storage Systems program. In this role he establishes the research agenda for both worldwide and European disk storage systems, tape automation, and optical automation research. Additionally, he has primary research responsibility for the S390 storage systems market. Mr. McArthur provides custom research and consulting for IDC clients on product requirements and marketing strategies for storage and storage management solutions. He has a strong global presence, speaking on storage and storage management trends at numerous end-user, trade organization, and manufacturer sales training events worldwide.

Mr. McArthur has more than 13 years of experience in IT operations, management, and finance. He came to IDC from State Street Bank and Trust Company where he was Manager for Information Technology Procurement. Prior to this he held a number of research and operations management positions in banking, financial services, education, and healthcare.

Mr. McArthur earned a B.A. from the University of South Florida.

Dennis Byron
Research Manager, Applications and Information Access ,  International Data Corporation

Dennis Byron joined IDC in 1997 to manage vertical applications research. His primary focus is on product and services supply chain packaged applications as well as trends related to industry-specific applications for manufacturing, wholesale distribution, retail, health-care delivery, financial services, AEC and professional services are included. Research into mechanical engineering applications is also included in response to the increasing trend toward integrating design and production functions in manufacturing organizations.

His vertical applications research initiatives include analyzing vertical industry strategies of applications vendors, monitoring worldwide market growth and opportunities, tracking the growth of suite vs. standalone (so-called ?best of breed?) applications from an industry perspective, evaluating end-user requirements, advising software vendors on corporate and product strategies, and helping corporations make technology investment decisions in the above-mentioned industries. Specifically Byron helps all types of software, systems and services vendors understand the scope of opportunity in product and services supply-chain applications markets. A key element of this is helping cross-industry applications vendors identify valuable partnerships with industry-specific vendors.

Byron has more than 25 years experience researching and analyzing all areas of information technology and information-systems use. His experience spans: Applications including engineering, office, and industrial automation, and a wide range of industry-specific applications, in the areas of manufacturing, healthcare, finance, and retail automation; and Enabling technologies such as operating systems and related development tools; communications software and middleware; and data-management products. Prior to joining IDC, Byron was with the Datapro division of McGraw-Hill for six years as a research analyst and as managing analyst of Datapro's client/Server Analyst service, specializing in manufacturing planning software.