Developing CI Strategies – Planning A Competitive Review

The Competitive Review process involves 6 basic Steps: Step 1: Plan your review at 3 levels: Strategic level Tactical Operational Step 2: Identification and classification of your competitors – current and future. Step 3: Define Intelligence Requirements – focusing on needs (vs. wants) and a specific outcome you want to achieve. Step 4: Determine how [...]

Media Analysis

The media is certainly a primary source in researching competitors. Newspapers, magazines, newswires, and publications all contain pieces of information that may assist you in formulating an opinion and conducting a competitive review. When investigating a competitor, always start locally or regionally and “fan out” from there. In many cases, companies you are reviewing are [...]

Competitive Intelligence Research Tips

The first step in any research endeavor or project is to define the research problem. An information gap is then recognized and research will be performed to close the gap giving management a clearer idea of how to proceed strategically. Alan R. Andreason has developed an interesting research model that essentially, identifies what the final stage [...]

Analyzing Competitor Websites

Competitors’ websites are a highly recommended competitive intelligence source. It is a free, content-rich starting place to begin your research. It’s also advantageous in uncovering information on small or new companies where traditional information about a young business is difficult to locate elsewhere. Key sections of the site, listed in order of priority, to take [...]

Competitive Analysis

There are a variety of different tools and approaches for gathering intelligence and analyzing competitors. Jan Herring suggests there are 5 basic types of intelligence analysis: 1. Preventing surprises to the organization by providing early warning 2. Supporting the decision-making process. 3. Competitor assessment and monitoring. 4. Intelligence assessments for planning and strategy development. 5. [...]

Formulating Competitive Intelligence Objectives

When conducting a competitive review, there can be several intelligence topics to be explored, an exorbitant amount of information and sources available and the end users may become overwhelmed if there is not a primary focus to your research.  Initiating a competitive review requires one mandatory step. The direct need for the competitive review needs [...]

Compiling a Competitive Review

View the Competitive Intelligence Center’s complimentary step-by-step, “best practices” competitive review process. CIC Presentations on Box.net Introduction to Competitive Intelligence http://www.box.net/shared/pfcpstqt8gq5g7g666nr SWOT Analysis http://www.box.net/shared/4a77jxprjgza111hn3ac Five Forces Analysis http://www.box.net/shared/4nqj2x1a9977t4b81lig Competitive Reviews http://www.box.net/shared/8vz20278sohrx6r62r9g NOTE: These presentations are in PowerPoint. If you do not have PowerPoint installed on your computer click here to download a free PowerPoint Viewer from MicroSoft. [...]

Introduction to Competitive Intelligence

Understanding Competitive Intelligence Successful CI enables companies to predict a competitor‘s next move and respond more quickly. By knowing the competitors’ strategies, their weakness could potentially be transformed into your strength. CI also allows companies to proactively stay ahead and anticipate changes occurring in their marketplace and industry. In short, competitive intelligence is used primarily [...]