A practical introduction to the necessity of competitive intelligence for smarter business decisions-from a leading CI expert and speaker In Competitive Intelligence Advantage, Seena Sharp, founder of one of the first Competitive Intelligence firms in the US, provides her expert analysis on the issues and benefits of CI for today's businesses. CI is critical for making smarter business decisions and reducing risks when formulating strategies, leading to more profits and fewer mistakes. This is a practical guide that explains what CI is, why data is not intelligence, why competitor intelligence is a weak sibling to competitive intelligence, when to use it, how to find the most useful information and turn it into actual intelligence, and how to present findings in the most convincing manner. Importantly, Sharp argues that businesses would benefit from shifting their perspective on CI from viewing it as a cost to viewing it as an investment that saves money and provides immediate value. Author Seena Sharp is a noted CI expert who established Sharp Market Intelligence in 1979 Addresses all the most common myths and misconceptions about CI Includes more than sixty examples of when to use CI Completely explains the ins and outs of CI, and why your company will act faster and more aggressively with CI Competitive intelligence is a management tool that is misunderstood and underestimated, yet results in numerous benefits. If you are a senior level executive or operate a business-and you aren't tapping the power of CI to improve your decision making-you are missing a potent advantage.

From the Inside Flap

In a challenging and constantly changing business environment, knowledge and foreknowledge about your business environment is crucial to smart decision-making and sound strategy. Competitive intelligence (CI) reveals the true state of your business, exposes the unknown, and shows you how to tackle current market conditions. It helps you recognize risks and new market opportunities earlier and act faster. In Competitive Intelligence Advantage , Seena Sharp, founder of one of the first CI firms in the United States, provides her expert analysis on the immediate benefits of CI for today's businesses. She reveals why CI is critical for minimizing risks when formulating your business strategy. Good CI delivers often surprising truths, gives you a heads-up on what's coming, and equips you with the knowledge to outmaneuver your toughest rivals. Using the accurate and objective knowledge good CI provides—particularly during unpredictable and turbulent times—you can gain control over the future of your business. The true power of CI lies in its ability to reveal what's happening outside your organization—to take off the blinders and show you the true competitive state of play. Competitive Intelligence Advantage: Defines and refines the elements of quality CI Details why what you don't know will hurt you Equips you with techniques for detecting opportunities and seizing them Shows you when and why to use CI to your advantage Helps you understand and evaluate information sources Demystifies and debunks common myths about CI Competitive intelligence is a robust management discipline that is often misunderstood and underestimated, yet always results in numerous benefits when used wisely. If you're a senior- level executive or organizational leader—and you aren't tapping the power of CI for an external perspective on your customers and the marketplace—you're giving your competitors the upper hand.