Competitive intelligence in a multinational consulting engineering company: A case study

Yolandi Prinsloo

doi:10.25159/0027-2639/2162

Authors

Yolandi Prinsloo University of Pretoria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/0027-2639/2162

Keywords:

Competitive intelligence, consulting engineers, engineering company, multinational

Abstract

Intelligence is not a new concept and dates back to over 5000 years. The concept of competitive intelligence is however still an evolving field and its modern-day business interpretation has been changed and refined by various researchers. The essence of these interpretations is however the same and lies in the ethical gathering and interpretation of information to drive innovation and inform strategic decision-making. If successful, this assists companies with gaining a competitive advantage.

The consulting engineering industry is experiencing major disruptions. To combat this, and gain competitive advantage and growth, competitive intelligence must be embedded in company culture and inform innovation and strategic business decisions. The aim of this study was to determine how competitive intelligence is implemented in a multinational consulting engineering company. To establish this, the nature of competitive intelligence and need for establishing a competitive intelligence culture were investigated. Following this, the challenges with implementation of competitive intelligence across borders were examined and the relationship between competitive intelligence, innovation and business strategy studied. Lastly, the types of information gathered, stored and distributed within the company as part of competitive intelligence activities were investigated.

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