Assessing competitive intelligence software : a guide to evaluating CI technology

Text demonstrates a practical, systematic method that businesses can use to evaluate CI software independently. Shows how to compare features, identify strengths and weaknesses, and invest in products that meet their unique needs. DLC: Business intelligence--Data processing. Contents......Page 6 Figures......Page 9 Tables......Page 10 Foreword......Page 12 Preface......Page 16 Acknowledgments......Page 24 CHAPTER 1 Value-Addedness and Information: Two Notions, One Goal......Page 26 From Data to Knowledge......Page 27 The Notion of Value......Page 34 The Value-Added Processes of Information Systems......Page 41 The Value-Added Processes of Expert and Intelligent Systems......Page 45 CHAPTER 2 A Conceptual Framework for Competitive Intelligence......Page 48 The Evolution of Competitive Intelligence......Page 49 Defining Competitive Intelligence......Page 52 Competitive Intelligence and Strategy......Page 60 The Competitive Intelligence Process......Page 62 Identification of CI Needs......Page 69 Acquisition of Competitive Information......Page 70 Organization, Storage, and Retrieval......Page 75 Analysis of Information......Page 76 Distribution of Intelligence Products......Page 80 CHAPTER 3 Identifying the Value-Added Processes of Competitive Intelligence......Page 82 Evaluating Information Technology......Page 83 Targeting the Value-Added Dimensions......Page 90 Identification of CI Needs......Page 91 Acquisition of Competitive Information......Page 95 Organization, Storage, and Retrieval......Page 98 Analysis of Information......Page 100 Development of CI Products......Page 103 Distribution of CI Products......Page 104 Additional Considerations......Page 105 CHAPTER 4 Overview of Competitive Intelligence Software Applications and Related Products......Page 108 A Typology of Technologies......Page 110 Identifying CI Technology......Page 119 CI Software Products Overview......Page 121 Knowledge.Works......Page 122 Market Signal Analyzer......Page 124 Strategy!......Page 125 Viva Intelligence Portal......Page 127 Wincite......Page 128 Wisdom Builder......Page 130 CHAPTER 5 Evaluating Competitive Intelligence Software......Page 134 Methodology......Page 135 Software Evaluation......Page 139 Knowledge.Works......Page 142 Strategy!......Page 143 Viva Intelligence Portal......Page 145 Wincite......Page 146 Discussion: Identification of CI Needs Capabilities......Page 148 Knowledge.Works......Page 152 Viva Intelligence Portal......Page 155 Wincite......Page 156 Discussion: Acquisition of Competitive Information Capabilities......Page 157 Knowledge.Works......Page 159 Viva Intelligence Portal......Page 161 Discussion: Organization, Storage, and Retrieval Capabilities......Page 162 Knowledge.Works......Page 163 Strategy!......Page 164 Wincite......Page 165 Discussion: Analysis of Information Capabilities......Page 166 Knowledge.Works......Page 167 Wincite......Page 168 Distribution of CI Products......Page 169 Global Assessment......Page 170 Conclusion: Competitive Intelligence Technology—Summary, Implications, and Trends......Page 174 Appendix: Do-It-Yourself Evaluation Form for CI Software......Page 180 Bibliography......Page 182 Resources......Page 196 About the Authors......Page 200 A......Page 202 C......Page 203 D......Page 204 G......Page 205 I......Page 206 M......Page 207 P......Page 208 S......Page 209 W......Page 211 Y......Page 212 As Commercial Software Products For Competitive Intelligence (ci) Emerge And Gain Acceptance, Potential Users Find Themselves Overly Dependent On Information Supplied By The Software Makers. Reviews And Surveys Are Published From Time To Time, But Ci Is Not A One-size-fits-all Process And The Software That Supports It Must Be Highly Customized. This Book Is The First To Propose A Systematic Method Firms Can Use To Evaluate Ci Software Independently, Allowing Them To Compare Features, Identify Strengths And Weaknesses, And Invest In Products That Meet Their Unique Needs. Authors Bouthillier And Shearer Demonstrate Their 32-step Methodology Through An Evaluation Of Four Popular Ci Software Packages. In Addition, They Identify Important Sources Of Information About Ci Software, Map Information Needs To Intelligence Outcomes, And Describe Key Analytical Techniques. Competitive intelligence (CI) software has become increasingly important for businesses needing to collect, organize, and comprehend the vast amount of publicly available information on their competitors. This is the first book to demonstrate a systematic method that businesses can use to evaluate CI software, allowing them to compare features, identify strengths and weaknesses, and fit software to their particular needs. Bouthillier and Shearer (both information professionals) provide background on CI, survey relevant software, and a demonstrate their assessment methods through evaluation of four leading CI software packages. Annotation ©2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR