Competitive Intelligence or Collective Stupidity: Which is it?

Sjoerd Vogt, The Dialog Corporation; United Kingdom

The word "Intelligence" normally refers to the power of applying learning and understanding to correctly interpret and deal with problems. It also means News or Information - particularly when of military value. In Knowledge Management we differentiate clearly between the data, the resultant information, and the subsequent interpretation of that information in order to create knowledge. The term "competitive intelligence" therefore clearly implies that information has been intelligently interpreted and that the all-important knowledge - whether in business or in battle - is the result. You know something that others don't - and that gives you the competitive edge. Why then are so many decision makers naive enough to believe that they can make intelligent decisions without having the necessary information at their fingertips?