Enhancing a competitive intelligence culture in South Africa

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 576-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilma Viviers ◽  
Andrea Saayman ◽  
Marié‐Luce Muller
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Competitive Intelligence

scholarly journals Comparative Study of Competitive Intelligence Practices between Two Retail Banks in Brazil and South Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. A. Du Toit
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
South African ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
Competitive Intelligence ◽  
Regulatory Requirements ◽  
Operational Risks ◽  
Retail Banks ◽  
E Mail

Using competitive intelligence (CI) can help developing countries to increase their competitiveness. This paper compares the CI activities between two retail banks in Brazil and South Africa. An e-mail survey in a sample of 2550 employees in a retail bank in Brazil and 847 employees in a retail bank in South Africa was carried out in which CI practices were measured. Respondents in both countries were not very effective to conduct effective CI analysis. Respondents from Brazil consider information on operational risks as the most important while for South African respondents the most important information was on changing regulatory requirements. Although there is a culture of competitiveness in both organizations, it is recommended that if they want to compete effectively in the global economy, they should create CI awareness by organizing CI training sessions for employees.

scholarly journals A comparison of competitive intelligence activities in Brazil, Malaysia, Morocco and South Africa

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adeline S.A. Du Toit ◽  
Nisha Sewdass
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Global Economy ◽  
Information Source ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Competitive Intelligence ◽  
Customer Feedback ◽  
Corporate Websites ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
Advanced Analysis ◽  
Secondary Information

Orientation: This article compared competitive intelligence activities in Brazil, Malaysia, Morocco and South Africa.Research purpose: The purpose was to determine how these countries can use competitive intelligence to increase their competitiveness in the global economy.Motivation for the study: Competitive intelligence is a challenge in developing economies.Research design, approach and method: A questionnaire survey was sent to competitive intelligence professionals in the four study countries.Main findings: The most important primary information source used in all four countries is direct customer feedback and the most important secondary information source used is corporate websites. Companies in all four countries did not use advanced analysis techniques.Practical/managerial implications: It is recommended that all four countries should develop a competitive intelligence culture by creating awareness of competitive intelligence amongst their employees.Contribution/value added: It is crucial to apply competitive intelligence in the four countries in order to become more competitive in the global economy.

Competitive intelligence as a coping strategy for academic libraries in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 593-606
Author(s):  
Smangele P. Moyane ◽  
Luyanda Dube ◽  
Ntando Nkomo ◽  
Patrick Ngulube
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Information Value ◽  
Competitive Intelligence ◽  
Library Directors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
User Expectations

PurposeThis study examined the extent to which public academic libraries in South Africa coped with the changing information environment by using competitive intelligence (CI) to attain competitiveness.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopted positivism as the main philosophical lens and also incorporated qualitative elements to augment the quantitative data through a survey research design. Questionnaires were e-mailed to 25 directors of public academic libraries in South Africa and 17 were returned, yielding a 68% response rate. Attempts were made to reach to the 25 directors through semi-structured telephonic interviews, and only eight responded some through their representatives, yielding a 32% response rate. Using two instruments permitted the triangulation of data. A noted limitation of the study is that some library directors neither responded to the questionnaire nor the interview.FindingsFindings revealed that various competitive intelligence techniques were employed; however, their implementation was not formalised. Competitiveness was driven by various factors such as rivalries in the information value chain; relevance; financial and budgetary constraints; changing user expectations and evolving technology.Originality/valueThis study is novel because there is a dearth of literature on implementation and use of competitive intelligence in academic libraries in South Africa.

scholarly journals Competitive intelligence: An instrument to enhance South Africa’s competitiveness

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 246-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilma Viviers ◽  
M Muller ◽  
A Du Toit
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Competitive Intelligence ◽  
Business Sector ◽  
Academic Field ◽  
Global Competitiveness ◽  
The World ◽  
Private And Public

The case for Competitive Intelligence (CI) as an instrument that can enhance the competitiveness of South African companies and South Africa as a country is strong. Various global competitive rankings measurements have indicated over a number of years the areas in which competitiveness is lacking. Moreover, these rankings have indicated that South Africa has failed to improve its position year on year. The fact that the world is becoming increasingly competitive for South African entities is undisputed. Coupled with a fluctuating exchange rate and the country’s geographical proximity, this poses unique challenges facing South African managers who have to deal with various regulations and legislative matters. In order to create and sustain an effective knowledge economy and to enhance global competitiveness, South Africa however has to put appropriate strategies/measures in place to stimulate, encourage and grow knowledge practices. Competitive Intelligence (CI) as a means of making more sense of the competitive business environment and to identify opportunities and risks in time to act upon can be effectively used as a means to enhance competitiveness. Valuable lessons from successful CI practices in the business sector and government can be learnt from elsewhere in the world. CI should be investigated and adapted for South Africa’s business environment. It is therefore the aim of this article to first attempt to describe the role of CI in enhancing competitiveness, specifically in South Africa and secondly, to stimulate thought on how to secure momentum in enhancing CI as an academic field by developing relevant CI courses as well as demonstrating the value of CI to companies in South Africa through research and collaboration between academics and the private and public sectors. 

Competitive intelligence failures

2018 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 367-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tumelo Maungwa ◽  
Ina Fourie
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Information Seeking ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Information Needs ◽  
Competitive Intelligence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Behaviour ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Intelligence Failures

Purpose Competitive intelligence failures have devastating effects in marketplaces. They are attributed to various factors but seldom explicitly to information behaviour. This paper addresses causes of competitive intelligence failures from an information behaviour lens focussing on problems with key intelligence and information needs. The exploratory study was conducted in 2016/2017. Managers (end-users) identify key intelligence needs on which information is needed, and often other staff members seek the information (proxy information seeking). The purpose of this paper is to analyse problems related to key intelligence and information needs, and make recommendations to address the problems. Design/methodology/approach The study is placed in a post-positivism research paradigm, using qualitative and limited quantitative research approaches. In total, 15 participants (competitive intelligence professionals and educators/trainers originating from South Africa and the USA) contributed rich data through in-depth individual interviews. Findings Problems associated with articulation of information needs (key intelligence needs is the competitive intelligence term – with a broader scope) include inadequate communication between the person in need of information and the proxy information searcher; awareness and recognition of information needs; difficulty in articulation, incomplete and partial sharing of details of needs. Research limitations/implications Participant recruitment was difficult, representing mostly from South Africa. The findings from this exploratory study can, however, direct further studies with a very understudied group. Practical implications However, revealed valuable findings that can guide research. Originality/value Little has been published on competitive intelligence from an information behaviour perspective. Frameworks guiding the study (a combination of Leckie et al.’s 1996 and Wilson’s, 1981 models and a competitive intelligence life cycle), however, revealed valuable findings that can guide research.

Competitive intelligence in South Africa: 1999-2002 and beyond

2005 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilma Viviers ◽  
Andrea Saayman ◽  
Marie-Luce Muller
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Competitive Intelligence
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