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The War Room Guide to Competitive Intelligence

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The War Room Guide to Competitive Intelligence

McGraw-Hill,

15 min read
10 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

Between football metaphors (get a conference quarterback) and military tactics (establish a war room) this is one testosterone-laden way to deal with data, but the objective suits any corporate general: know more, know it sooner, keep it secret.

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Editorial Rating

6

Qualities

  • Applicable
  • Well Structured
  • Engaging

Recommendation

Steven M. Shaker and Mark P. Gembicki adapt government intelligence tactics to the business world. They help businesses convert information into profitable action. You cannot separate information either from its protection or from decision making. If you move all three of those processes into a centralized war room, you can thrive in today’s competitive business environment. You must approach everything - from conferences to the Internet - with strategic information-gathering techniques. This tactically based book is valuable for executives or managers who wish to improve their grasp of competitive intelligence. While it is dense at points and includes a number of complicated charts, getAbstract recommends it for its supreme clarity. The sections on how to visualize intelligence, get the most out of conferences, read body language, and choose the right search engine are particularly helpful.

Summary

When Intuition and Experience Fail

When you’re operating in a stable environment, you can make decisions based on your instincts or your experience. The good news is that with stability, things that worked in the past probably will continue to work. Your frame of reference always will help you with problems. The bad news is that the modern work environment is inherently unstable.

Between the Internet and increasing international competition, your business environment is rapidly changing. You can’t rely on old knowledge or tricks. You must strive for foreknowledge - of your customers, your competitors, and new media. Never before has foreknowledge been at such a premium. Competitors aren’t using new technology just to gather pertinent information. They’re using it to siphon your information, and use it against you. If your business doesn’t develop a method for gathering, using, spreading, and safeguarding information, you surely will be left behind.

Do not treat information gathering, decision making and security as separate entities. They all affect one another, so bring them together. Think synergy. After all, your decisions can only be as sound as your information...

About the Authors

Steven M. Shaker, a nationally renowned futurist, is co-founder and vice president of War Room Research. He has appeared on several high-profile television programs, including Good Morning America and Nightline Mark Gembicki  is co-founder and president of War Room Research. An expert on information security, he is a leader of the Manhattan Cyber Project.

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