Competitive Intelligence : How to Gather, Analyze, and Use Information to Move Your Business to the Top [Paperback]

Larry Kahaner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 11, 1998

In the first book designed for businesses of all sizes and managers at every level, Larry Kahaner explains the increasingly vital practice of competitive intelligence and how American companies can use it for success. With a wealth of case studies, Kahaner shows How to profile your competitors' executives to unmask their decision-making processes The line between legal and illegal or unethical activities How to protect your own company against your competitors' intelligence operations COMPETITIVE INTELLIGENCE is a practical guide to turning raw information into priceless knowledge and winning business strategy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone (February 11, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684844044
• ISBN-13: 978-0684844046
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #81,005 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #69 in Books > Computers & Technology > Computer Science > Software Engineering > Information Systems

More About the Author

I am an award winning journalist and the author of eight books including "Competitive Intelligence," considered the landmark work on the subject. My books have been translated into six languages and have been chosen as Book-of-the-Month selections. I have written for the International Herald Tribune, The Washington Post, The European, The Village Voice, Popular Science and many other publications.
I was a Washington staff correspondent for Business Week Magazine and covered military affairs for Knight-Ridder newspapers at the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer where my beat was Fort Benning, the infantry training center.
My awards include the 2005 Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award for a feature on transportation security, the Associated Press Public Service Award for an investigation into unsafe working conditions in Georgia textile mills and the American Society of Business Publication Editors Regional Gold Award for a feature on the dangerous state of U.S. roads.
I have appeared on national TV and radio shows including CNN's Larry King Live!, Evening Magazine, National Public Radio's All Things Considered, G. Gordon Liddy Show, BBC World Service, CBS Evening News and local TV and radio stations in San Francisco, Washington, DC, New York City, Detroit, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Chicago, Miami and other cities.
I am also is a licensed private investigator and founder of KANE Associates International, Inc., a company that specializes in intelligence matters for corporate clients.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very Disappointing, February 6, 2002

By 

K. Taylor (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Competitive Intelligence : How to Gather, Analyze, and Use Information to Move Your Business to the Top (Paperback)

I learned of this book while reading the "Ask Annie" column in Fortune (Jan. 7, 2002). I've been in Marketing for 10 years and was looking forward to a good book on competitive intelligence gathering. This covers only the most basic of topics: the plan, do, check, act cycle; annual reports; 10-Qs; government permits; etc. If you don't have a clue where to start in CI you may find this book helpful. If you've done even cursory competitive intelligence gathering before you will not likely find anything new here.

I should have paid attention to the reviewer that said, "If this is the FIRST book you read on Competitive Intelligence - it is not that bad..." I'll add not only if this is the first book, but also your first exposure, otherwise skip it.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable to anyone getting started in the CI industry., March 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Competitive Intelligence : How to Gather, Analyze, and Use Information to Move Your Business to the Top (Paperback)

I have recently used this book as one of the major sources for my final project at University in Bristol. I was conducting the project for a well known company so my findings and prototype were to be implemented in the real world. As my literature review involved serious reading around the subject I got to know CI in depth. 99% of the major headings within my review were found within this book, and I found myself referring to it continuously even with many other sources at my disposal.

Interested in Competitive Intelligence ? Buy this book !

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is THE book about Competitive Intelligence, August 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Competitive Intelligence : How to Gather, Analyze, and Use Information to Move Your Business to the Top (Paperback)

After having listened to so-called gurus spout off about CI none of it made any sense until I heard Larry Kahaner speak at a recent SCIP conference. I bought his book which explains CI in a clear, no nonesense style and I was able to use his insights immediately at my company. If you know nothing about CI, this is the book to start with. If you 'think' you know everything about CI this is the book that will fill in all the blanks you 'thought' you understood. It's practical and down to earth.