Competitive & Marketing Intelligence
Book Recommendations and Suggestions for Further Reading

Military Intelligence Blunders
John Hughes-Wilson; Paperback; Published 1999 UK £ / US$
OK - this book is not on corporate strategy, or CI so it is difficult to decide where to include it. The book tells the stories behind some of the world's most disastrous military mistakes, whether caused by faulty information, bad interpretation, cunning plans to deceive the intelligence gatherers or leaders who won't listen to what they are told. It is an analysis of the "intelligence cycle" that turns raw data into useful information about capabilities and intentions and then brings it to the attention of the decision-makers.
Hughes-Wilson is a well-known militery expert, and this book makes a change from the regular business type book by giving a different flavour to the subject. Well-recommended - but not strictly CI or business, so no stars (although they are deserved).

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Smart Services: Competitive Information Strategies, Solutions, and Success Stories for Service Businesses
Deborah C Sawyer; Paperback; Published 2002 UK £ / US$
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. (Note: 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).

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Competitive Strategy : Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors - With a New Introduction (1998)
Michael E. Porter; Hardcover UK £ / US$
Porter can be viewed as the father of competitive intelligence as a management discipline - and this was the start. Essential reading - for students, managers, academics and anyone who wants to know how to monitor competitors. Introduces Porter's 5-Forces model - used to understand the forces acting on companies and industries.

This book is awarded two-stars reluctantly. Because of its importance, it really deserves three - but we've given it two as it is not an easy read. It is also now quite old - it was first published in 1985, and apart from the new introduction has not been updated. However to understand modern views on competitive strategy it is an essential text.

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