Competitive Intelligence represents a 'formalised' yet continuously evolving process by which the management team assesses the evolution of its industry and the capabilities and behaviour of its current and potential competitors to assist in maintaining or developing a competitive advantage. CI information gained can be used in programs that supplement planning, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, marketing, pricing, advertising, R&D etc. The CI function can be divided in to two main activities a) the operation, including working on intelligence products and projects involving gathering, analysing and dissemination of intelligence based on request from managers; b) the administration, which focuses on the activities, actions and resources needed to manage the operational activity. These two activities interact and both are necessary for an effective CI function. CI is still an evolving art so there is a strong need for this book. Working with 20 best-in-class CI organisations the Authors developed metrics for each factor that provides a road map of the key choices necessary to develop a world-class CI program.weiterlesen