Almost two decades after it emerged as an essential business tool, competitive intelligence is still finding its way. Despite its recognized importance, companies struggle to acquire the kind of intelligence they need and measure its effectiveness and value. This book provides essential tools for selecting the right kind of CI and assessing its contributions to a company's financial performance.

The authors identify three fundamental, intertwined mistakes a company can make, showing how to evaluate them and repair the damage they may have done. McGonagle and Vella dissect the current state of CI, survey its evolution into five distinct yet overlapping types, develop a framework for determining which types fit special needs, and evaluate means of communicating CI up and down the line. They discuss the most common raw data source categories-the bases of support for all CI analyses-and the workings of metrics in general. CI professionals and related end users are provided with a process they can employ immediately, right out of the box, which will not only help them select the right metric but will prove invaluable as they seek to evaluate the future metrics that are sure to come.

Zusammenfassung
This book provides essential tools for selecting the right kind of CI and assessing its contributions to a company's financial performance. The authors identify three fundamental, intertwined mistakes a company can make, showing how to evaluate them and repair the damage they may have done.

Inhalt

Overview Introduction Does CI Impact the Bottom Line? Two Significant Categories of Competitive Intelligence Active Competitive Intelligence Active CI: The Four Divisions Which Type(s) of Active Competitive Intelligence Should You Be Using? Where Should You Look for Raw Data for Active Competitive Intelligence? How and When Should You Deliver Active Intelligence Results? Untangling the Problems of Metrics in CI Choosing the Right Measurement(s) for the Active CI You Are Using Defensive CI Is Your Firm in a Competitive Environment That Demands a Defensive CI Program? What Kinds of Intelligence Efforts Should Your Competitors Be Mounting Against You? What Sources of Data on Your Company Should You First Include in Your Defensive Program? Choosing the Right Measurements for the Defensive CI Program You Are Managing Bibliography Glossary Index