What Intelligence Is - Essay Example

Class 1

The simple objective of this class is to understand what intelligence is. This class seems to give an opportunity to recapitulate everything studied in different subjects of management. This covered stakeholders, the business environment, discussed strategies, and anticipation of changes in the business environment. However, the overall treatment of different aspects of business was very different. It was more focused on understanding the underlying issues that are the results of different factors and the expected results of the same. The need for competitive intelligence was identified to develop insight into emerging markets and identify and neutralize the threats so that the effects are minimized. The myths discussed clarified various doubts on the subject.

Class 2

Class two was more based on the tools of the intelligence project. The KITS (Key Intelligence Topics) model was described and discussed and its application was explained. The intelligence wheel comprising of planning, analysis, communication, evaluation and collection and collation and distribution of time in each of these phases helped to understand different aspects of decision maker, decision, organizational contacts problems possible to encounter and many others. The focus on the type of knowledge, prioritization, effective use of intelligence units, and others have been explained in great detail. The focus of intelligence can be various stastakekeh,olde elders, organizations or events. It can be competitors, customers, regulators, or other stakeholders or technology changes, the threat of new entrants, opportunities, and others.

Class 3

This class was for the intelligence and collection of information. The case study was used in this class for Best Food’s information needs like financial information, portfolio studies, and the orientation of the senior management. Different types of information, differences of information and knowledge, and various other basic concepts were cleared in this class. This class also helped to build knowledge about the sources of information and the competition of getting the right information from the right sources at the right time. There was detailed information on various aspects of the use of Internet sources for information.

Class 4

Analysis of intelligence was the key theme for this class. This class was all about making sense of the information collected. The two approaches discussed were the Joe approach and the analysis approach. The gap analysis was something covered in detail in the Services Marketing strategies. This particular aspect was clearer to me from my previous education. The main aspect of the analysis explained were focus on collection, perspective on results, ensuring completeness, assisting in reducing bias, and providing meaning. The analysis instruments covered were software based which help in data mining, checklists, or models.  The strategic and competitive analysis process as discussed by Fleisher & Bensoussan was covered in detail. This was new and interesting for me. The other interesting aspect was the decision, KIT, and analytical approach method. This allowed integrate my previous knowledge into the present learning. Here also I felt as if I am studying the things I already know with a new approach.

Class 5

The last class covered evaluating capacity in order to develop foresight and intelligence.  The four foresight scenarios for 2017 or 2030 were interesting to study. This class provided various strategies and how to understand the robustness of strategies, deal with barriers and obstacles and prioritize action in each key area like technology, socio-cultural context, economic and export policy, and finance availability.

Second Presentation

I suggest having a presentation on the next course that includes more case studies and a practical based approach. The presentations so far have been good in developing the awareness and knowledge of what competitive intelligence are, its tool and techniques, and many others. However, more practice is needed to hone the skills through the practical-based approach, working on case studies that can be group or individual of different sectors and businesses. Throughout these five classes, my knowledge base strengthened. The small cases and discussion allowed learners to understand things clearly. However, a more practical based approach will help learners take this knowledge to the next level of understanding.