Intelligence in Action

Is more always better? Traditionally, both knowledge management (KM) and competitive intelligence (CI) practitioners and scholars have recommended more KM and CI, but should they? Intelligence in Action explores the value of these initiatives in a strategic manner, looking more closely at the demands of the competitive environment. This is the first book to combine financial results with proprietary benchmarking data and in-depth interviews with experienced knowledge practitioners. The analysis is based on thousands of firms organized into relevant industry groups according to their value versus assets and their level of competitive intelligence activity. The resulting framework provides an inside- and outside-the-firm view of the risks and opportunities found in knowledge management and competitive intelligence. An analysis of the database combined with the interviews helps the reader understand industry frameworks, the conditions within, and potential responses from firms to their specific circumstances. Through illustrative examples, data analysis, and strategic insights, the authors refine and extend their Strategic Protection Factors (SPF) framework into a practical guide to balancing knowledge development and protection with all the resource implications inherent in those decisions.