SLA Competitive Intelligence Division Blog

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.

CIC05: CI Published Source Collection: Research Techniques, Part II

How do I conduct more advanced business and industry research for intelligence?
What are some tools and techniques that can support my efforts?

Take advantage of the Competitive Intelligence Certificates Program, offered exclusively through SLA, and available to non-members too. Register for CIC05. CI Published Source Collection: Research Techniques, Part II, the next course of Click U’s Competitive Intelligence Certificates program. To view the discount options that are available please visit CI Discount Options.

The course begins 13 September 2010.

 

CIC05. CI Published Source Collection: Research Techniques, Part II

Competitive intelligence literature researchers face the perennial challenge of uncovering rarified, high-value, and timely information in the context of fast-paced, high-stakes and continuous intelligence projects. How can we accomplish this? This, Part 2 of the online course, CI Published Source Collection: Research Techniques, builds on Part 1 by examining advanced topics that include 1) international intelligence research for business, industry, and people; 2) intellectual property research; 3) conducting research for common analytical frameworks; 4) designing and managing effective monitoring efforts; 5) intelligence research software. Topics will build from general business research by focusing on and highlighting creative techniques and sources used in intelligence collection.

Prerequisite: Participants enrolled for the IIF and Dual Competitive Intelligence Certificates are recommended to have completed course CIC-04. Those not pursuing a certificate may take any course a la carte.

Critical Learning Questions
 

1. How is international literature research conducted to support intelligence efforts? How can I generate more effective results? What do I need to consider regarding specific geographic regions?
2. How does intellectual property research support intelligence? How can I generate effective results? What do I need to consider regarding specific regions, types of intellectual property, and intelligence needs?
3. What are common analytical models and the questions surrounding them? What types of questions can I answer through my research? How can I more efficiently and effectively answer these questions and gather information for analysis?
4. How can I design and manage monitoring efforts for various types of intelligence projects and requirements? What types of techniques and tools are available to me?
5. What types of software are available to support my research efforts? How can I evaluate them effectively for intelligence applications?

Instructor: Anna Shallenberger
Course dates:  13 September - 1 October 2010

Questions?  Need more information?  Contact Click University.

CIC04: CI Published Source Collection: Research Techniques, Part I

Starts August 2 - Register today!

How do I conduct effective research to answer Key Intelligence Questions, as well as support human intelligence & analysis? What are effective tools & techniques that can support and enhance my efforts?

Although there are practices and tools in common, effective intelligence research involves distinct considerations, frameworks, techniques, strategy, and resources from general business research. This online course presents and examines these essential aspects to the Published Source Collection (aka literature research or secondary research) function of the Intelligence Process. In this (Part 1) course key techniques and resources are discussed, as well as trends in intelligence, content and technology that affect intelligence research. Topics covered include: devising research strategies, research to support human intelligence gathering and intelligence analysis, traditional and non-traditional resources types and selection, Web monitoring tools and more. This course includes an exercise and discussions involving intelligence research to support analysis. Learn course details and register.

Learn more about SLA's Click University Competitive Intelligence Certificates Program.

Questions? Need more info? Contact [email protected].

Copyright in the Digital Age

Come into Second Life next week to learn the latest on copyright compliance. This is your opportunity to talk with Dru Zuretti, Manager of Copyright Education at Copyright Clearance Center. Great info that you can immediately put to use in your environment!

Library Buzz: Copyright in the Digital Age

Presented by Dru Zuretti, Copyright Clearance Center

When: December 15, 2009 - 6pm PT/SLT
Where: Info Island Auditorium, Second Life
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/62/114/33
NOTE: This session is in Second Life, please get a Second Life avatar and the client software here: http://www.secondlife.com

Copyright is a constant factor in the life of everyone who retrieves an article from a journal, copies a portion of a book or website or downloads information from a database. How do you know if your users or clients are complying with copyright law? How can you provide the right copyright information to your organization? What trustworthy tools and information are available? How do you navigate through the maze of copyright possibilities and seemingly endless restrictions? 

Dru Zuretti, Manager of Copyright Education for Copyright Clearance Center, will give an overview of the current state of copyright, how to use copyright, and host a discussion about copyright. Bring your questions!

Bio: Dru Zuretti has been with CCC since December of 1977, and has served in a variety of customer facing roles, including management of the Customer Relations Group. In her current position, Dru travels extensively throughout the United States, and visits many college and university campuses, businesses, consortia and corporations, at their request. She also has been a presenter on copyright issues for a verity of national conferences including the National Association of College Stores (NACS) at ConTEXT and CAMEX, the Medical Library Association (MLA) Annual Conference, the Special Library Association (SLA) Annual Conference, Big Ten Printing and Copyright Conference, Print Image International, the Association of College and University Printers, Society of Technical Communication (STC) and Text & Academic Authors Association (TAA). Dru is a member of the National Speakers Association and has a Master of Education degree from Cambridge College.

The Library Buzz sessions are sponsored by the SLA in Virtual Worlds Advisory Council in partnership with the Alliance Virtual Library (AVL).

 

-Scott Brown

Library Buzz Panel: Are LIS Programs on Target for Today’s Workplace?

Presented by: Dr. Andrew Wertheimer, Ben Hoganson, and Chris Nelson
Moderated by: Cindy Hill
Produced by: MLIS students at the University of Hawaii, sponsored by SLA in Virtual Worlds

When: November 19th, 2009 - 6pm PT/SLT
Where: Info Island Auditorium (Second Life)
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/62/114/33
NOTE: This session is in Second Life, please get a Second Life avatar and the client software here: http://www.secondlife.com

Summary: LIS graduates find themselves working in a variety of rapidly changing workplaces; changing technology and changing roles in the workplace and in society. Join us as we meet with a panel representing current LIS students, recent LIS graduates entering the work force, LIS professors, and working Librarians to discuss the role of LIS education in this dynamic field. We will be discussing how or if LIS programs are adapting to meet the needs of the workplace, what people learned or wish they had learned, continuing education, and whether or not an LIS degree is valuable to today's workplace.

Dr. Wertheimer is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Hawaii Manoa and has experience working in public and academic libraries and an archive.

Ben Hoganson is a graduate of the MLIS program at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, and is currently working as an Information Research Specialist with the Idaho National Laboratory.

Chris Nelson is currently studying Library and Information Science at San Jose State University.

Cindy Hill is the owner of Hill Information Consulting Group and received her MLIS from San Jose State University.

Questions to be addressed:

1.Do you think what you learned in Library School prepares you to be a librarian?
2.What did you learn that you don't think you'll need (or haven’t needed) and conversely, what didn't you learn that you wish you had?
3.Should an MLIS degree be required to be a librarian?
4.Should librarians have a positive requirement for CE or certification?
5.What do you think is necessary for those just entering the library/information profession?
6.What is going on in LIS programs today that is addressing these changes?

The Library Buzz sessions are sponsored by the SLA in Virtual Worlds Advisory Council in partnership with the Alliance Virtual Library (AVL).

-Scott Brown

Inside Jobs

On the heels of my last post on CI teachable moments come developments from another case frought with lessons. The alleged theft of Goldman Sachs proprietary trading code by their former programmer shines the spotlight once again on organizations' internal intelligence defense. (See an article at: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20090810/FREE/908109981.) Cases like this and, famously, that of theft of a Coca-Cola's formula in 2006 (http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2007-05-23-coke-sentencing_N.htm), highlight the need for awareness of internal intelligence risks as well as for clear and consistent training on employee do's and don'ts. While we don't have complete details regarding the Goldman case, my experience working with various firms has taught me that, more often than not, employees are under-educated about ethical and lawful conduct. While awareness and training will not inform and deter everyone, these measures can help prevent misconduct and breaches of non-disclosure or non-compete agreements by those who are ignorant or claim ignorance of policies, ethical behavior, or the law.

What do you think? Are awareness and training worthwhile? If so, how and for whom?

Have you encountered situations that involve internal breaches? What were the outcomes and did the organization apply any new measures?

Cheers,
Cynthia Cheng Correia

CI Teachable Moments

Once in awhile, the darker side of corporate intel makes the news and this recent article in USA Today, "Tech Gadgets Help Corporate Spying Surge in Tough Times," is among the compelling ones. It raises some great (and perennial) points: That...

• Many organizations' staff know little about formal CI and ethical or legal practices. (And, if they do, they understand little about how to protect themselves.)

• Corporate espionage continues to tarnish ethical CI.

• CI and intelligence defense is constant and evolving.

• Desperate times can lead to desperate (and unethical/illegal) methods. (Although temptation and one's own misdirected cleverness can be ever-present.)

• One can't ever use enough common sense, combined with forethought and technical & physical security, to protect oneself and one's organization.

• We need to understand the technology we use not only functionally, but from a security standpoint. (And creativity can be used for defense.)

• Solid CIKM (CI knowledge management) remains vital.

What does this mean to the CI pro?

1. It's imperative that we stay on top of techniques (ethical/unethical and legal/illegal) in order to achieve and maintain solid CI and defensive intelligence practices.

2. Teachable moments and opportunities for internal training remain constant, as long as technology evolves, practices become more sophisticated and global, and organizations seek to achieve competitive advantages.

3. We can never leave our guard down, and we should encourage our colleagues to do the same.

Tales like the ones in this article are valuable lessons for us and our organizations, and it's up to us to share the cautionary tales with our colleagues and sustain the case for good intel and defense.

Cynthia Cheng Correia