Generally, such activity detracts from an external focus on clients. Mergers in the services sector have proven incredibly difficult for that reason. Many have resulted in the downfall of previously successful firms, such as MarchFirst, a merger of USWeb, CKS, Mitchell Madison Group and Whittman-Hart. Nevertheless, Gartner expects that Scient will remain on businesses' short lists for its user experience and design work. On the other hand, feedback from Gartner's clients is mixed regarding the business value they have received from Scient or iXL for past integration efforts. The two companies also did not take advantage of their knowledge to create repeatable solutions for future customers. Gartner believes that companies should diligently evaluate new contracts before signing on the dotted line. Companies should ensure that any consulting resources promised are corroborated with names, resumes and references pertaining to skill sets and competencies.