Competitive intelligence (CI) is the practice of gathering and analyzing information about competitors in order to gain an edge in the marketplace (for example, by anticipating their next moves and beating them to the punch) or by shoring up one's own company's defenses prior to an anticipated assault. The stakes are even higher in a global environment, where the potential risks and rewards are amplified. This volume explores emerging trends that affect and influence CI today, such as the impact of digital commerce (which enhances the speed with which products and services can be delivered around the world, as well as the speed with which competitors can surprise you), the effects of interest groups (such as those advocating environmental protections, which can tilt the playing fields), and new laws governing the practice of CI across borders. In this book, contributions from researchers, scholars, and practitioners specializing in competitive intelligence reveal the most current practices in the field. In-depth analysis of emerging approaches to CI in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, and in industries across the spectrum from pharmaceuticals to automotive supply chains, highlight the ways in which practicing CI globally is fundamentally different from doing so in a static, one-country context. The authors offer fresh insights and recommendations for CI specialists, strategic planners and executives, marketers and product developers, and anyone studying competition and strategy.
Dr. Craig S. Fleisher is Chief Learning Officer at Aurora WDC, one of the globe's top professional services firms specializing in the areas of business, competitive, market and strategic intelligence. He is also a member of the graduate faculty for the Executive MScom at Università della Svizzera italiana in Switzerland and Docent in Business Information Management, Tampere University of Technology, Finland. His PhD was earned from the Katz Graduate School of Business, University of Pittsburgh.
Previously, he was the Founding Dean of Business and Public Affairs and Professor of Management (Strategy & Entrepreneurship), College of Coastal Georgia USA, President of the international association of Strategy and Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP - Alexandria, VA), inaugural chair of the Competitive Intelligence Foundation (CIF - Washington, DC), and Editor of the Journal of Competitive Intelligence & Management. Also a former MBA director, university research leadership chair and endowed research chair holder, he has been a member of university faculties in over half a dozen countries. His prior business experience was in strategy consulting, mortgage banking management and real estate appraisal.
A recognized global expert who has helped many leading multinational enterprises and institutions improve their intelligence capabilities, public affairs management, performance measurement and/or analysis processes, Craig has authored or edited over 10 books + many translations and published scores of refereed papers and book chapters. He has been an invited speaker, facilitated workshops or keynoted meetings in over forty countries, supervised dozens of graduate theses, and has been a regular recipient of executive education and university teaching awards. He contributes on the editorial boards of many international scholarly journals such as Journal of Public Affairs (Wiley), Business & Society (Sage), Intl. Jnl. of Technology Intelligence & Planning(Inderscience), Asia Pacific PR Journal (Canberra), and the S. African Jnl. of Information Management, among others.
He is a long-time active member of several international associations including the Academy of Management, Golden Key Intl. Honour Society (GKIHS)for whom he was recognized as a national Advisor of the Year, Founding Member and former executive officer of the Intl. Assn. of Business and Society (IABS), Life Member of the Intl. Assn. of Business Communicators (IABC), Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Academy of Marketing, and Canadian Who's Who, among others. He has received numerous recognitions for his contributions including being an international SCIP Meritorious Award winner and Fellow, top Canadian MBA professor, multi-time outstanding faculty member or instructor at several universities, and best conference paper awards.
