Focusing specifically on the competitive information needs of service-oriented firms, this book illuminates the many forms of competition in service businesses, identifies the most effective information resources for competitive intelligence, and provides a practical framework for identifying and studying competitors in order to gain competitive advantage. Explained are unique challenges and techniques for tackling traditional competitors, uncovering hidden and left-field competition, discovering and tracking competitor strategies, looking for financial intelligence, and looking for intelligence about people.
(Details on how to find my website or read my blog are included in this bio)
I began writing at the age of 5 - before I had really learned how to spell! My first "novel" began with those classic words: "Wunce apone a time..." Since then, I have written countless articles, a few books and various short stories, plays, poems and essays.
Most of my books on Amazon date from my years as President of Information Plus. With offices in both the US and Canada, we worked with an international clientele and I gained a lot of experience, both in providing client services and in running businesses. This information - wisdom, I hope - has been distilled into the pages of my books, so others who wish to read them can benefit. As that old saying goes: Learn from other people's mistakes, you will never live long enough to make them all yourself!
In total, I have written over 8 books but it is very difficult to get these listed on Amazon. I will keep trying to update my Amazon bibliography but, in the meantime, if you are searching for one of my titles, please go to deborahcsawyer.com/dcs_005.htm
Nowadays, my business writing is confined to occasional articles - such as in Quirk's Magazine or on EzineArticles.com - about the business of running a service firm. There are some fundamental differences between running a business making, distributing or selling solid objects (products) and one where your inventory is your time with the value-add of expertise. My writings, notably on Ezines, address some of the pitfalls in the time-based firm and how to steer around them so you can - hopefully! - make money. And, I may even come out with another book before too long...
In the meantime, you can follow me on the blog I'm writing for my latest book which is otherpeoplesproblems-atworkatwork.blogspot.com
