 About AWARE
Our Ethical Approach
AWARE follows a strict ethical code based on the ethical guidelines laid down by the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP).
In addition to the SCIP ethical code, the following principles are adhered to by AWARE and its associates:
AWARE will only engage in legal and ethical approaches to obtaining competitor information and will make no attempt to obtain information that has been classified as a trade secret. (Note that public domain information is not restricted to published information, but can also include information obtained through a variety of research approaches including interviews with competitor employees and employees working for competitor clients as well as others who have direct knowledge of the competitor. Information gathered during such interviews can be used so long as it is not flagged as confidential).
AWARE will always aim to protect client interests and reputation. We will thus not engage in any practices, which could, were they discovered, bring our client's name into disrepute. This includes, but is not limited to practices such as misrepresentation and lying, bribery, "dustbin searches", entrapment and other approaches, which AWARE views as unethical business practices.
In interviews or other direct contacts, AWARE will disclose all relevant information for the purpose of the interview, including the interviewer identity and contact details. However AWARE will never divulge client names or the ultimate research purpose without prior authority from the client.
AWARE will protect client confidentiality and will not use information gathered or learned in one project in any other project. In this context, AWARE recommends and encourages the signing of a confidentiality agreement with clients. This can either be the client's own agreement (if available), AWARE's standard contract or any variation agreed by both parties.
AWARE will always seek to avoid any conflict of interest between clients. As a result, AWARE works with only a single or limited subset of companies within an industry or industry sector and will either turn down work from competing companies of an existing client, or will ensure that the same associate does not work on both companies' projects where any conflict of interest could arise.
|
|
|
|
|
Books - Smart Services
Recommended Book
Smart Services: Competitive Information Strategies, Solutions and Success Stories for Service Businesses
Deborah C Sawyer
Buy UK £ or US$
Read our review of this book
The front cover of "Smart Services" includes a quote from Andrew Garvin, the CEO of Find/SVP saying: "Finally a book that nails down what every service business needs to know about competition and competitive intelligence. 'Smart Services' offers competitive information strategies that firms can put to immediate use." I don't think that I could have given a better summary and description of this excellent book.
For a thorough review of this book check out FreePint's book review. (FreePint is an excellent portal site and discussion forum for the overall information industry, and is well recommended - and used by over 70,000 information professionals world-wide).
Close Window
|
For more recommendations visit our book selection.
|
|
Public training
Competitive Intelligence Training
|
|
Footer
Our services in competitive intelligence research, competitor analysis and CI training will help you integrate and use competitive and marketing intelligence in your business, strategic and marketing planning processes. Whether you need research, advice or training, our mission is to support our clients so that they achieve their growth objectives.
For the best UK & European competitive intelligence and competitor analysis services, contact us today.
 About Us Services Resources Publications Help Contact us Site Map
Copyrights, etc.
Copyright © AWARE 1995-2008
Pages updated: May 2008 |
 |
|
