SAP, Oracle, IBM are purchased by CTOs because they have comfort that they are dealing with "big enough companies to understand their enterprise needs" - which

SAP, Oracle, IBM are purchased by CTOs because they have comfort that they are dealing with "big enough companies to understand their enterprise needs" - which translates to "the sales reps have big expense accounts and wine and dine me". I have worked with all of the above vendors and I have seen that so much of the marketing budget goes towards "entertainment", junkets, conferences, etc. Besides buying from a big vendor makes them look good in the eyes of their credulous board. There is too much risk in being blamed for buying from an "unproven vendor".