In the past, it was not unusual for technical staff to conduct market research about marketplace offerings, while contracting staff conducted market research more focused on industry practices and pricing. A better approach is for the entire integrated project team to be a part of the market research effort. This enables the members of the team to share an understanding and knowledge of the marketplace -- an important factor in the development of the acquisition strategy -- and a common understanding of what features, schedules, terms and conditions are key.