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Companies need an intelligence system to support their strategic-management needs. The ability of companies to recognize the value of new, external information; assimilate it; and apply it to business needs is critical to effective strategic decision making. This capacity is more important as information flow increases and the market for knowledge expands while the uncertainty of future opportunities remains.
Companies need a systematic ability to search out, capture, and interpret information about emerging issues, as-yet-unarticulated customer preferences, and potential new capabilities in the marketplace.
The words business intelligence appear in our company name for a reason. We are experts at sifting through mounds of information and transforming that information into knowledge: the right information in the right form at the right time. For years, we have taught companies what we know, helping them integrate intelligence systems and practices into their strategy-management processes. Specific services that we provide include:
- Assessment of intelligence needs
- Evaluation of an organization's intelligence assets and processes
- Design of new intelligence solutions
- Preparation of a business case for new solutions and implementation planning
- Development of a new intelligence-solution infrastructure
- Support to implementation.
Effective intelligence systems track external developments likely to have an impact on the organizations, and they prompt timely discussion of the strategic implications of these forces of change. To develop such systems, SRIC-BI draws on its highly successful scenario- and technology-planning processes.
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Benefits of an effective intelligence system:
- Better business strategy
- Early identification of future threats and opportunities
- Faster assessment of potential business impacts
- Improved decisions
- Investments, R&D programs, and the like
- Partnerships, acquisitions, licenses, and alliances
- Greater leverage of technical competences
- Higher stimulation of innovation processes
- More information and activity at all levels
Preview Applying a New Tool for Monitoring and Scanning, a tool designed by SRI International to support large-scale intelligence systems involving many users and enterprisewide decision-making processes. SRIC-BI is currently working with early adopters in the corporate world to use SEAS in technology intelligence and corporate development.
Case Studies
Development of a Partner-Scoring Model
SRIC-BI helped a major computer company develop a consistent and fact-based approach to measure and manage its independent-software-vendor (ISV) relationships. Working with senior management and personnel across the organization, we developed a scoring model to help support the company's strategies and decisions at the ISV account, segment, and portfolio level. We successfully tested the model using actual partner data and developed detailed use scenarios. We provided a comprehensive rollout plan and recommendations for organizational and management process changes to help support successful implementation. We also provided a phased plan to extend and refine the capabilities of the model. |
Technology-Intelligence System for a Major Chemical Company
In this assignment, SRIC-BI worked with a major chemical company to design and implement a technology-intelligence process that it tailored to the company's needs and integrated within related existing business and technology-management processes. Key process-design issues for the company included:
- What business decisions are affected by technology intelligence?
- Who is making and influencing those decisions, and what technology-intelligence input do these managers need?
- What technology-intelligence-gathering and -dissemination activities are necessary, given the company's structure and business and technology-management processes?
- How should technology-intelligence procedures and interfaces effectively and efficiently integrate together and into the company's technology-management function?
We based the general framework for the assignment on SRIC-BI's model for technology intelligence. |
Business/Technology Surveillance Operation
For a specialized engineering company, SRIC-BI and the client developed an early-warning system to identify and characterize business and technical changes and forces that were potential threats or opportunities for the company. As part of that system, SRIC-BI professionals reviewed a broad base of technical and industry information on a continual basis and highlighted important business and technical factors that were critical to the client's business. In addition, SRC-BI provided a fast-response assessment service for critical issues and questions that arose during the project period. Periodically, SRIC-BI and the client meet to review new threats and opportunities. |
Quick Benchmarking
For a major international oil company interested in creating and implementing an intelligence system that would serve its companywide need for up-to-date information related to technology and other strategic developments, SRIC-BI led a two-day workshop on best practices in intelligence gathering and analysis. The objectives were to provide learning and understanding to company managers, assess the company's basic issues by comparison, and identify quick-hit opportunities for improvement. |
Relevant Research Programs
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