|
Purchase options: |
 |
$105.06 amazon.com |
Details: |
|
ISBN:3540030816
|
|
Published by Springer
|
|
Written by Rainer Michaeli
|
|
Book published October 2005
|
Other opinions: |
|
Review and customer comments at amazon.co.uk
|
|
Title:
Competitive Intelligence
Review:
In his German-language book "Competitive Intelligence", Rainer Michaeli shows readers how to ethically and legally integrate competitive intelligence (CI) into their company and how to convert CI from theory to practice. Whether you are a CI novice trying to find information on how to develop and operate a CI centre or a seasoned CI practitioner looking for applications of CI or case studies, this book is for you.
Competitive intelligence is the process of obtaining and analyzing competitive information from publicly available sources to help achieve the objectives of an organisation. Unlike business espionage, which develops information by illegal means like hacking, CI uses public information that can be legally and ethically identified and accessed.
Competitive IntelligenceRainer has organised "Competitive Intelligence" so it can be used as a reference guide, as well as a textbook for class or self study. It is easy to navigate, has an extensive index and has a detailed glossary that lends itself to targeted search on methods, terms or statistics. Its 600 pages have 24 case studies and professional articles, 37 of the most important CI methods and 200 graphs and charts, which allow the reader to understand the breadth and depth of competitive intelligence.
The book plunges novices into this depth by providing help with anything from the empirical question, 'What is CI?' to, 'How do I conduct CI in my company, and what do I need to do to move it from a lone CI manager to integrate it with my firm?'.
In answer, chapter seven discusses the six steps necessary to develop and operate a CI centre. It explains several factors that must be addressed in order to successfully establish and maintain one, including, but not limited to, the management of information, the organisation and function of the centre within the organisation, choosing the right personnel, integration into the organisation's decision-making process and software to support the CI cycle.
What readers will not find is a cookie-cutter approach to CI. There are no templates or outlines to copy, just factual information to provide the backbone of a successful function, no matter where. Chapters two and three detail the psychology of the intelligence analysis, as well as the competitive intelligence cycle. Other chapters talk about HUMINT (human intelligence or primary intelligence gathering) or risk analysis. This gives readers some ideas of how to collect information and what kind they should be collecting. The case studies throughout the book give examples of how to apply this newly learned knowledge in any company.
Seasoned CI practitioners or academics, on the other hand, can learn advanced techniques in CI, including dynamic analysis, scenario analysis, war gaming and risk analysis. These topics are covered in chapters five, six and seven. The book touches on studies in different industries with industry case studies from the pharmaceutical, automotive, financial, telecommunications, orthopaedic and utilities sectors. This helps address a big part of any CI practitioner's job, which is to read about other disciplines and studies so they can apply appropriate examples to their industry.
I found this book to be of tremendous value to me, as a seasoned CI practitioner. It ties concepts directly to real-world applications. It also outlines a plethora of topics that can be labelled 'CI,' as well as concepts and applications that can be duplicated in your own industry.
Free Pint Reviewer:
Christine Wunderlin is co-managing partner at MarketSmart Research Services, a research services company concentrating on delivering high-quality public source research. Previously, she was employed at LexisNexis, a leading provider of information and services solutions, and Lands' End Inc., one of the leading mail-order companies in the United States. Her roles in these companies ranged from advising business leaders to better understand their business rivals, vendors, competitive and market forces, to designing and implementing a CI function. She is a past board member of SCIP (Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals), and a 2005 SCIP Catalyst award winner. Christine was educated at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville..
Related Free Pint Links:
|
