The Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP) is a global nonprofit membership organization for everyone involved in creating and managing business knowledge. Our mission is to enhance the success of our members through leadership, education, advocacy, and networking. Specifically, SCIP provides education and networking opportunities for business professionals working in the rapidly growing field of competitive intelligence (the legal and ethical collection and analysis of information regarding the capabilities, vulnerabilities, and intentions of business competitors). Many SCIP members have backgrounds in market research, strategic analysis, or science and technology. Established in 1986, today SCIP has chapters around the world, with individual members in nations around the globe. In addition, SCIP has alliance partnerships with independent affiliate organizations in many countries.
Competitive Financial Intelligence June 17 - 20, 2008
Fast-paced and highly interactive, this example-laden course will equip you to dissect domestic and international financial statements – Profit and Loss Statements, Balance Sheets and Cash Flows – and discover a) just how well your competitor is actually performing, and b) what future strategic moves are financially feasible. Analyzing financial statements is a key – but too often omitted – skill required for effective competitive intelligence. In just two days, Dr. Rogers’ enthusiastic up-to-date presentations, reinforced with actual in-class case studies, will provide thorough in-depth grounding in statement analysis and the skills to expose secrets your competitor would prefer you not know.
Fundamentals of Competitive Intelligence June 16 - 17, 2008
Two full-day workshops offering the beginner and intermediate level CI professional, a comprehensive professional development program to sharpen your skills in CI research and analysis techniques.
Iowa Chapter Half Day Meeting June 3 - 3, 2008
Trade shows, conferences, conventions, and other events are excellent places to learn about your competitive environment: market trends, new technologies, market opportunities, competitor plans and products, and much more. Collectively they provide opportunities to gather the most competitive information in the shortest time for the least amount of money.
Introduction to CI Analysis May 27 - 28, 2008
Introduction to CI Analysis: This workshop will take participants through each of the three steps required for successful intelligence analysis: identifying/anticipating questions; answering them rigorously; delivering answers effectively. A combination of lecture and case study work will afford participants to experiment with tools and methods presented. Presenter: Kenneth Sawka, Managing Partner, Outward Insights LLC.
SCIP UK Meeting in Conjunction with Intro to CI May 27 - 27, 2008
To compliment SCIP's 2 day course entitled, "An Introduction to Analysis" on 27th and 28th May in London, the SCIP UK Networking Event Series will present a practitioner perspective on analysis through the use of "closed" case studies.
Atlanta Chapter Meeting May 23 - 23, 2008
Primary intelligence gathering often results in the most current, up to date information, and when networks are carefully built and nurtured, they often prove to be a repeatable pool of information.
Wisconsin Chapter Meeting May 22 - 22, 2008
Do you have a strategy? Many firms say they have a clear competitive strategy when in fact they are following little more than a series of sound-bites – for instance, “we want to be a global player,” or “we aim to be the company of choice for clients in our industry.”
Using Social Networking to Enhance CI Programs May 22 - 22, 2008
Confused about web 2.0? Not sure how to use social networking sites and what you have to gain from them. Attend the latest SCIP webinar to gain the edge you need on your competition. Webinars from SCIP allow you to connect to CI experts from anywhere in the world—all you need is a personal computer with an internet connection and a telephone. SCIP invites you to learn the "latest and greatest" tips and techniques in this upcoming webinar. Using a MAC? No problem. Instructions are included on the log in information.
Boston Chapter Meeting May 21 - 21, 2008
This presentation will review the Economic Espionage Act of 1996 comparing and contrasting espionage which is criminal with competitive intelligence which is legal.
Greater DC Chapter Meeting May 20 - 20, 2008
Private Equity and Hedge Funds are drivers of change in our global capital markets and impact every industry worldwide. Researchers within these firms apply innovative techniques to identify and evaluate investment opportunities and potential threats in diverse industry sectors.
CI at Motorola
This presentation from Joe Goldberg Senior Director, Corporate Business Intelligence Corporate Strategy Office at Motorola gives a definition of intelligence at Motorola followed by a description of its evolution and current state in the company. (blog) Nathalie, May 13, 2008
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Competitive intelligence - the new strategy driver
As Indian companies gear up to take on their global peers, competitive intelligence is going to become the key driver for formulating business strategy. The need for an early warning system that can quickly anticipate market shifts is much higher than ever before. Senior management across companies needs to start devoting a significant portion of their time in studying the changing competitive landscape and take risk control measures continually - a laid-back and passive approach is now passe. (blog) Gagan Kaul, May 12, 2008
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Global Market Intelligence Survey
Global Intelligence Alliance released the new report "Global Market Intelligence Survey 2008," the most extensive global Market Intelligence study conducted to date. Responses were collected from 439 participants on five continents by the Member companies in the Global Intelligence Alliance network. The survey has been published under the GIA White Paper series, and it uncovers linkages between organizational decision-making and Market Intelligence operations. Differences in MI by industries and regions were also measured along with key success factors of MI. May 9, 2008
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Surprise: strategic planning's Achilles heel
Companies do a poor job of keeping tabs on information that has the potential to cause severe strategic disruptions. The solution, I believe, lies in a system that combines structured analysis of plausible threat scenarios with a simple and effective approach to information monitoring. Both elements form the basis of a business early warning system that can allow strategy analysts to provide credible warning of external threats, thereby minimizing the effect that surprise has on executives' ability to respond. (blog) Ken Sawka, May 9, 2008
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Track intellectual assest to stay ahead of competitors.
The way your competitors acquire, protect, and promote their intellectual assets can inadvertently signal their next moves. Increasingly savvy marketers are following how competitors manage their intellectual assets to get a sense of what they're preparing to do next. (blog) Dave Wieneke, May 9, 2008
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Information security - protecting your data is not just a cyberspace issue anymore
Office equipment and devices that hold information - either temporarily or for long periods of time - can be accidentally or intentionally transferred to criminals who wish to make a quick buck by directly using or selling this. Your office photocopiers and those found at stores like Kinko's can now be added to the list of items that can leak your company's personal data. These multi-function printers usually contain small hard drives that can be removed and accessed by virtually anyone who has a computer and a hard drive data cord. (blog) N.A., May 8, 2008
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Top 10 reasons for monitoring brands in social media
If you are watching your industry and the keywords used to describe it you will probably be the first to know when a new competitor appears on the scene. From a competitive intelligence perspective you may also wish to be alerted any time a competitor's name is used. Knowing this may highlight opportunities to reach out to potential customers who have indicated they are trialing a competitor or dissatisfied with a competitor's product or service. Competitors will also often talk about subjects they are strategically interested in and being able to stay on top of those discussions allows you to anticipate potential future moves. (blog) David Alston, May 8, 2008
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CI = patent analysis + patent mapping
Patents are now being considered as one of the major source of technological and competitive dirt. Computer and internet technologies made it unusually easy to access these beefy informational sources. Patent analysis can have consequential value for a company in compact and predicting the development of the competitive technology view in its industry. (blog) John Barrera, May 6, 2008
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CI using patent analysis
Do you want to unveil your competitors' plans for product development and market entry? Your competitors inadvertently make much of their strategic plans available to the public when they file for patent protection. A careful analysis of patent filings can reveal the technologies your competitors are championing, the markets they are pursuing, and the literature they are reviewing in their research. (blog) David Wanetick, May 5, 2008
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Financial intelligence requires a deeper look
Understanding the financial fitness of a company is essential to proper due diligence. Companies targeted for M&A or involved in litigation may not want to reveal their true financial condition. A company's public relations team may put on a happy face, but to know the true health of a company you need to look at their public filings and financial statements and understand the implications of the different business ratios. (blog) Tim Powell, May 7, 2008
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