SLA Competitive Intelligence Division Blog

Register today to take your CI skills to the next level

For those of you who have yet to register, please be reminded that SLA’s CI Division will be presenting the first in a new series of educational webinars for its members and other research professionals interested in the Division.  Again, we will be focusing on a topic that is relevant and practical for information professionals with CI-related responsibilities.

Date:     Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Time:    1:00pm EST

You can register for the webinar at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/355714194

The topic for our January webinar is “Next Generation Intelligence Analysis: Applications, Methods and Processes for Elevating Your Organization's Analytical Capabilities and Integrating with Key Intelligence Topics (KITs).”

The next generation of intelligence analysis looks very different from the analysis done in our organizations over the past few years. Driving forces, including needs to address the growing complexity of competitive and environmental factors, better dealing with the global explosion of data available, and the urgent need for alternative cognitive models, among other things, have brought intelligence analysis to a tipping point. 

Based on over 15 years of research conducted with hundreds of global organizations, Dr. Craig S. Fleisher, the "Dean of Intelligence Analysis" will discuss how analysis practices and processes are being reengineered to meet rapidly changing needs of decision-makers. Dr. Fleisher will illustrate several next generation analytical elements, the development of structured analytical methodologies, the means for uniting key intelligence topics (KITs) and analytical techniques in a framework known as KITs+1™, collaborative insight mechanics driven by Web 2.0 applications such as wikis, and nascent models for training and development like the one called Analytical Fitness™ that Aurora is using with its own analysts and clients.

Dr. Craig S. Fleisher is the Chief Learning Officer (CLO) at Aurora WDC. Craig has authored several essential CI books including the Financial Times Guide to Analysis for Managers (2009), Business and Competitive Analysis (FT Press, 2007), and Strategic and Competitive Analysis (Pearson, 2003), among others. A former SCIP president and long-serving Board member, he originated and was inaugural chair of the CI Foundation, served as founding editor of the Journal of Competitive Intelligence and Management, and is a SCIP Meritorious Award winner and Fellow. 

He was Dean, MBA Director and University Research Chair, and was recognized as one of Canada's top MBA professors in Canadian Business while serving at the business or management schools at the U. of Calgary, Windsor, WLU and UNB. A long-standing member of the Canadian Who's Who, he continues to teach graduate or executive courses for universities in Australia, China, Finland, Switzerland, UK and USA as well as developing and delivering custom executive courses in intelligence and analysis. Contact Craig at [email protected] or see his full profile at http://CI2020.com/profile/CraigSFleisher.

This event is sponsored by our vendor partners at Aurora WDC (www.aurorawdc.com) and is offered on a complimentary basis to current and prospective SLA CI Division members.  However, please note that future webinars will be offered as a specific benefit of CID membership only.  Prospective members and interested others will be required to pay a fee in order to participate.  

Educational webinars are only one of the many and varied benefits of CID membership.  Please contact any member of the CI Division board or check out our forthcoming new website for details.

Toni Wilson

Past-Chair, SLA CI Division

Networking at the SLA 2011 Conference

During challenging times, networks are important.  The people you meet in business can be essential to your success, helpful when job hunting, and good for your professional development.  One of the key purposes of a professional organization is to provide ample opportunity to network with your peers.  As Conference Chair for SLA CID programming for the 2011 conference, and as this year’s Membership Director, I want to encourage all SLA CID members to network with their peers within SLA CID.  Just in case the word is not yet out, there are a number of ways to do this at SLA 2011 in Philadelphia. 

Many studies have shown that the most important aspect of any conference is interaction.  So, if you want to interact with your peers I hope you will take this invitation to join us at our Open House on Monday p.m. from 5:30-7:30.  We are combining entertainment and education using Pecha Kucha presentations, along with food and drinks, and plenty of networking time.  Our no host dinner on Tuesday p.m. at 6:30 is a great time to sample the cuisine of Philadelphia and meet some new people.  Sign up for the restaurant of your choice at the Open House, especially if you have not already chosen this event in the conference planner.  

 
See the program for more information about SLA CID sessions at the conference, and check out our on-site promotion to win an iPad sponsored by InfoNGen, Seena Sharp’s and Dr. Craig S. Fleisher’s book signings, and more.  And please introduce yourself at the Open House … we’re interested in meeting you! 

For those who will not be at the conference this year, we plan some virtual networking events during 2011 to engage more with our membership.  Look for information on these opportunities in future.

Posted by Claudia Clayton

What’s your (short) story?

Today and tomorrow’s info pros are challenged to make meaning out of an overwhelming amount of information. One way to accomplish this is through storytelling. Recently, I submitted a post to SLA’s excellent Future Ready 365 blog that describes how we can all become better at constructing narratives that are memorable and compelling, and that help our clients make sense of the topics that matter to them.

I’d like to challenge you to try your hand at storytelling in the form of a pecha kucha presentation. With this format, you have to get your point across using 20 slides, spending only 20 seconds talking about each. It’s a great communication exercise that forces you to think critically about how to express your ideas without extraneous details that clutter your message.

New and experienced PKers are invited to submit their proposals on the topic, How do info pros apply competitive intelligence to equip themselves, their organizations, and their clients to confront the challenges of an uncertain future?, to present in a tournament at the Competitive Intelligence Division’s Open House. Don’t hesitate to take this opportunity to learn or practice a valuable skill while getting to know your colleagues. If you know of someone who might be a good candidate, please tell them about this event! The competition is open to anyone with insights to share.

For more information, please refer to the CI Division’s blog, The Intel at http://sla-divisions.typepad.com/dci/pecha-kucha.html .

Proposals are due by April 15, 2011, so submit yours soon!

-Submitted by Jill Stover Heinze

Can you Pecha Kucha? Submit your proposal and you could compete to win an iPad 2!

The Competitive Intelligence Division (CID) of the Special Libraries Association (SLA) is looking for your unique insights on how information professionals apply competitive intelligence to making themselves, their clients and organizations future-ready.

The CID is now accepting proposals for your thoughts on this topic in a fast-paced, pro-am Pecha Kucha (PK) tournament format during the CID Open House at the SLA 2011 Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO. Members and non-members are welcome to participate.

You can find details about what Pecha Kuchas are and how to submit yours on The Intel Blog here: http://sla-divisions.typepad.com/dci/pecha-kucha.html

Be sure to submit your proposal by April 15, 2011 to be considered. Selected presenters will be chosen by their peers and notified by April 29th. Good luck!

How are you "future ready"? How is CI "future ready"?

As you likely know, SLA President Cindy Romaine has kicked off an ambitious new project, called Future Ready 365. The FR365 blog is an effort to illustrate and provide a forum for the many voices inside the information profession, and to draw in insight and perspective from across industries. It's an exercise in collaboration, sharing experience, and helping each other be more resiliant and forward-looking in a changing profession and a changing world.

The entries so far have been very good. I would encourage you, if you're reading this, to consider contributing your voice to the blog - especially as a CI professional. How do you see the world changing? How are you adapting to it? How have you transformed yourself and your skills to create new opportunities for yourself? How do you see CI playing into this?

If you'd like to participate, see the information for submitting a post here. I think many of you have great insight into this topic. I know I'd be interested in hearing what you have to say!

Scott Brown

SLA CI Division (Past) Past-Chair

Harry Markopolos to Speak at SCIP Boston Meeting on February 9

Bernie Madoff was the mastermind behind what is widely described as the largest Ponzi scheme in history. How was he uncovered? Did you know that CI techniques played a role? Join the SCIP Massachusetts/Boston Chapter for this unique event, as Harry Markopolos, “the Madoff Whistleblower,” details for the first time how he uncovered Madoff’s scheme using CI techniques and how CI techniques continue to help him in his current cases. Don’t miss your chance to hear first-hand about this tale of rare, high-profile CI intrigue!

SLA CI Division members will remember Harry Markopolos from the 2008 SLA Annual Conference in Seattle, WA, where he and Kevin Desouza spoke on the topic "Can You Keep a Secret? How to Keep Your Competitors from Learning What You Know."

SCIP Massachusetts/Boston Chapter Presents:
Harry Markopolos, “The Madoff Whistleblower”
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 5:00PM – 8:30PM
Hult International Business School

Speaker
Harry Markopolos, CFA, CFE, is an independent financial fraud investigator who brings fraud cases to the US Department of Justice, Internal Revenue Service and various State Attorney Generals under existing whistleblower programs. He has been featured in the leading business media, including Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and Bloomberg, and he has provided testimony before the United States Congress.

The Madoff investigation was his first financial fraud case, which he started in early 2000. He’s been hooked ever since. Mr. Markopolos is co-author of the best selling book “No One Would Listen: A True Financial Thriller” published by Wiley & Sons, Inc.; March 2010. The film documentary about his Madoff investigative team, “The Foxhounds: The Pursuit of Bernie Madoff” premiered in November 2010 at the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam.

Program
In 2000, Harry Markopolos recruited and led a four-man team of industry experts to track Bernie Madoff's $65 billion feeder fund network across two continents. This team's eight-and-one-half year long investigation identified dozens of Madoff feeder funds which were delivering a steady stream of new victims to Madoff's doorstep on a daily basis. Most of their intelligence was gathered in person at industry events, conferences, and during meetings. (In fact, very little of their investigation took place on the internet and there was a reason for that – Madoff was so secretive that he made sure that none of these feeder funds was mentioning him by name in their marketing efforts.) Mr. Markopolos will speak about the case from an intelligence gathering standpoint and take your questions.

Mr. Markopolos will also sign your copy of his book, "No One Would Listen: A True Financial Thriller," detailing his investigation. There will be no books for purchase.

Location
Hult International Business School
EF Education First Boston Headquarters
1 Education St.
Cambridge, MA 02141

Registration
Includes dinner and soft drinks. Cash bar available. SCIP Member $35.00 Non-Member $45.00.

For details and registration, go to www.scip.org. Please note: This will be a popular event – register early!

The Intel thanks Parmelee Eastman at Knowledge is Power for alerting us to this exciting event!

Travel stipends for 2011 SLA Conference

Notices of two separate stipend awards!

PAM Travel Stipend for attending SLA conference

The SLA-PAM Professional Development Committee is pleased to announce that IOP Publishing is once again sponsoring four conference travel stipends to help new librarians with the expenses of attending the SLA Annual Conference.  The stipends aim to accelerate the advancement of new librarians entering science/technology librarianship by mentoring them to access educational and professional opportunities within the SLA.   This is the third year running that IOP Publishing and the PAM Division have proudly offered these travel stipends.

The selected recipients will each receive a $1,000 stipend to assist in defraying the cost of attending the 2011 SLA conference in Philadelphia, PA in June, 2011. Learn more about the IOP Travel Stipend Award today and nominate yourself, or someone you know.

Eligibility

• Applicants should be recent graduates of a library science program.
• Applicants should have less than 3 years of professional library information experience.
• Applicants must work in a library focusing on one or more of the PAM disciplines (physics, astronomy, mathematics, or computer science) or act as a library’s subject specialist for one or more of these disciplines.
• Applicants should be first-time attendees of the SLA annual conference, or first-time attendees in a PAM discipline.

The committee reserves the right not to grant any of the four awards if not enough applications meet all eligibility requirements and adhere to all the application procedures.

Only applicants who meet all the eligibility requirements at the time of application are submitted to the SLA-PAM review committee for travel stipend consideration.

Candidate Expectations

• Candidate must attend the SLA Annual Conference the year the award is given.
• Candidate must attend the PAM business meeting and breakfast.
• Candidate should be willing to attend PAM sessions and events at the Annual Conference and participate in a group photo session administered by SLA.

Application Procedure

Prepare a brief letter (approximately 750 words),  answering the questions:

• How do you meet the criteria?
• What do you hope to gain from attending the 2011 SLA conference?
• How do you expect/hope to be involved with the PAM division?

Submit current curriculum vitae OR resume.

Applications can be submitted via email to Nedelina Tchangalova at [email protected]  (subject line should begin with PAM Travel Stipend). Applications will be accepted until February 1, 2011.

Notification

Applicants will receive notification of award status by March 1, 2011. The award check will be presented at the PAM business meeting and breakfast.

The PAM Division is deeply grateful to IOP Publishing for their continued involvement with and support of librarians at the SLA conference, and most especially for their generous commitment to the professional development of young science librarians.

Another stipend award program:

Early Career Conference Awards

LMD is joining the Business & Finance, Legal, and Pharmaceutical & Health Technology Divisions in co-sponsoring four Early Career Conference Awards with SLA Europe.  Winners will attend the 2011 SLA Annual Conference and INFO-EXPO in Philadelphia, 12-15 June 2011.  Applications are welcome from LIS students and early-career professionals (first 5 years post-qualification) based in Europe. 

For more information about this award and details about the application process go to: http://www.sla-europe.org/2010/11/15/sla-europe-early-career-conference-awards-2011/.  The closing date for applications is 31 Jan 2011.

Design thinking for strategic competitive advantage

I had the pleasure to listen to CI Division member Arik Johnson speak to the Denver Association of Strategic Planning recently about design thinking. Some other Denver-based CI Division members were there as well, including Ellen Naylor, who blogged about the session.

 

What struck me was the identification of different models - and personalities - needed for innovation: both the "exploratory" folks, and the people who can take those ideas and execute. Which kind of personality are you?

Scott Brown

Past-Chair, CI Division

Intelligence Insights: October 2010 Issue

We are delighted to announce that the October 2010 issue of Intelligence Insights, the Bulletin of the Competitive Intelligence Division is available online at the SLA CI Division website. This month, we feature a review of CI Division programs from the SLA Annual Conference in New Orleans, LA:

• The Changing Role of Librarians: Reflection on SLA 2010, by Zena Applebaum
• Message from Division Chair, by Victor Camlek
• The Intel Blog at SLA 2010, by Jill Stover Heinze
• We let the “good times roll” in New Orleans—Let’s get pumped for Philadelphia! by Anna Shallenberger
• SLA 2010 Annual Conference Program Highlights:
  • Adapting to Changes in Media and Dissemination
  • Market Research and Knowledge Management: Applications for the Information Professional
  • Intelligence Early Warning Systems: Beyond Monitoring
  • Competitive Intelligence Division Annual Business Meeting and Breakfast
  • InfoCitizen: Creating and Finding Value in Online Communities
  • 60 Sites in 60 Minutes
  • Spotlight Session: Ask the Competitive Intelligence Experts
  • Spotlight Session: Competitive Intelligence Transitions for LIS Professionals

 

You can find these articles and more at http://www.sla.org/division/dci/Newsletter.htm, where you can download a PDF version of this issue, as well as find past issues. (Please note that the newsletter is a 794KB document with graphics, and may take ~30 to 60 seconds to load, depending on your internet connection.) If you experience problems downloading Intelligence Insights, please contact [email protected] and [email protected], so that we can diagnose and resolve any technical issues.

We hope you enjoy Insights!

Upcoming onsite courses for SLA's CI Certificates program

Take your CI practice to the next level and take advantage of this SLA member benefit – and value you won’t find anywhere. SLA presents two courses to help propel your professional development. Introduction to Financial Analysis and Scenarios Analysis & Futures Techniques will be held at SLA Headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, on 4 and 5 November 2010. Participants may take either or both of these courses as a part of their overall professional development or earn credit towards SLA’s Competitive Intelligence Certificate.

CIC11a: Introduction to Financial Intelligence (Analysis Elective) (Thursday, 4 November, 8am-5pm)
Financial analysis is a vital and powerful component of competitive intelligence that can provide valuable insights to an organization's condition, how organizations manage and operate, and how they make decisions. While often overlooked, avoided, or insufficiently conducted, applying good financial intelligence can help you better understand competitor's strengths, weaknesses, competitive options, and potential activities. Read more about this course.

Prerequisite: No prior financial experience is required; an understanding of competitive intelligence is recommended.
Instructor/Facilitator: Matt Evans, CPA, CMA, CFM

CIC12: Scenarios Analysis and Futures Techniques (Friday, 5 November, 8am-5pm)
Competitive intelligence practitioners understand the importance of foresight to achieving and maintaining competitiveness, and anticipating future conditions, trends, and actions is essential to sound competitive practices. In this course, we will explore and apply key futures models, techniques, and tools for developing likely scenarios. Read more about this course.

Prerequisites: Participants enrolled for the "Core" and Dual Competitive Intelligence Certificates are recommended to complete courses CIC-08 and CIC-09.
Instructor: Cynthia Cheng Correia, Principal, Knowledge inForm, Inc.


Why take these courses:
+  Build a deeper understanding of your organization’s competitors.
+  Build a deeper understanding of your own organization and its strategic partners.
+  Inform your research strategy…and produce better outcomes.
+  Gain essential analytical skills and experience.
+  Improve your business communication and interactions with colleagues.
+  Make a greater impact! Enhance your contributions – and value – to your team and organization.
+  Expand your professional opportunities!

All Competitive Intelligence Certificate program courses are developed specifically for information professionals and SLA members. Participants do not need to be in a CI role in their organizations and may take courses à la carte.

Don’t delay! Course enrollment is limited to 30 participants. Registration will close on Monday, 1 November, at 11:59 pm ET, or earlier if all spaces are filled.

Need more information about the courses or travel logistics?  Contact Click University.