There's some discussion nowadays about what is meant by competitive intelligence, but many at the top of important businesses consider competitive intelligence training a must for keeping an edge in a competitive market. While many see competitive intelligence as mainly the same as gathering legal data about competitors, others use the term more broadly to define nearly any kind of predictive work on how a business will fare in a market.

For finding out about what's happening with competitive or "business" intelligence education, web users can find info on competitive intelligence education and training news and trends from many Internet venues that cover the kinds of "data mining" activities that we associate with competitive intelligence. Readers can find news related to competitive intelligence training useful for:

1. Evaluating options for getting a specific staff member involved in competitive intelligence education and training, competitive intelligence licensing or certification, or another similar role.

2. Help in starting up a company's competitive intelligence project where the job of predicting the market will get done by an individual or a team.

3. Assistance with helping top brass to understand the imperatives of business intelligence certification, training, program boosting or other work.

Action Steps
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Look for competitive intelligence training news from online periodicals

Online publications, including magazines, journals and periodicals, are one resource for helping a business to get involved in learning what's going on 'behind the scenes,' as executives hone their competitive intelligence skills for keeping on top of market realities and knowing about competitors. Use these resources to step into what is in some ways much like a 21st century 'jungle' where the quick benefit and the slow suffer.

I recommend: This Competitive Intelligence Magazine, from the renowned Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals or SCHIP, is an example of how publications on these issues are adapted to the Internet for broader public learning. Other journals, like Law Practice Magazine, include articles like this one about how competitive intelligence is getting used within the specific field, in this case, a legal practice. Get more breaking competitive intelligence news from publication-type sites like Information Today.

Find schools for competitive intelligence certification and training

Business leaders looking to maximize competitive intelligence potential or leverage existing talent can find info from schools offering competitive intelligence programs.

I recommend: The site at the Academy of Competitive Education highlights how its programs are offered within the trends noticeable in the greater field. Get links to other schools offering this kind of skills in degree offers and business intelligence courses from Earn My Degree online.

Get additional competitive intelligence training resources from a variety of info sites

Other web pages include some various 'list-type' resources for getting to know more about competitive intelligence. Browse these sites to get a healthy, balanced view of how competitive intelligence gets done within specific fields and apply the results to your business.

I recommend: Find out about competitive intelligence for librarians at Suite 101. Use info sites like FUMSI to find more articles on competitive intelligence within today's business community. For even more on business intelligence training, try Inc.: "The Daily Resource for Enterpreneurs."

Use competitive intelligence education and training to increase your research, knowledge and professional capabilities in business intelligence. Certification is one option. Competitive intelligence training is another. Either way, business intelligence courses will come in handy and help set you apart from the rest.

Use your competitive intelligence training to improve your strategic planning process. Carefully monitor your competitors, and strategically make counterplans to your rivals' business plans. Look to observe the nature of the changes your competitors might make and their reaction to industry change. Then transfer that knowledge to the decisions that your organization makes.

To determine the best business intelligence education method for you:

1. Decide how far you want to pursue your business intelligence training. Do you want to earn a degree, competitive intelligence certification or simply learn a bit more on the subject?

2. Look at what your training budget is to determine how much you can afford to pay for your competitive intelligence classes or training.

3. Decide on the distance you are willing to travel to arrive at your competitive intelligence training program destination.

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Look to software to supplement your business intelligence education

Supplement your competitive intelligence training and application thorough competitive intelligence software.

I recommend: Check out the award-winning Knowledge XChanger software from Comintell USA. Digimind helps you build your business intelligence education and tackle your competitive intelligence issues. Cipher Systems also offers award-winning competitive intelligence software. Factiva helps you organize business news and integrate intelligence on your competitors.

Find competitive intelligence training through webinars, seminars and more

Attend events, seminars and webinars for continued education in competitive intelligence.

I recommend: Take a look at the public seminars offered by the Fuld-Gilad-Herring Academy of Competitive Intelligence. Attend events and webinars from the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals. Look to at the webinars offered by The Center for Business Intelligence.

Take competitive intelligence training through available courses and programs

Earn a competitive intelligence degree or obtain competitive intelligence certification through many available sources.

I recommend: Pursue a masters degree from the Competitive Intelligence Center (CIC), part of Simmons College in Boston. There they offer courses for working professionals. Find competitive intelligence courses through George Dennis Associates. Earn a Bachelor of Art in Intelligence Studies or a Master of Science in Applied Intelligence from the Institute for Intelligence Studies at Mercyhurst College. Consider a Master of Science in Business Intelligence (MSBI) degree from the University of Denver.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Use your business intelligence education to know who your true competitors are. Ask your clients who else they looked at when making a decision to join your company. Also consider partners, suppliers and major customers as potential future threats.

Whether you’re interested in a new career in the competitive intelligence field or want to utilize this business tool to improve the success of your business, competitive intelligence education and training for beginners can give you the basic information and instruction. Successful business intelligence training will discuss the best ways to research, analyze and use information about your competitors or clients to guide marketing decisions.

Opportunities for business intelligence education will help you learn more about the field and if a competitive intelligence career or system is right for you. Discover more about the business process designed to give companies a competitive advantage by seeking to:

1. Discover colleges or business schools that offer everything from competitive intelligence certification or four-year degrees.
2. Look into competitive intelligence training online for business intelligence courses that allow you to learn more about the field at your convenience.
3. Participate in industry associations that offer competitive intelligence training seminars, as well as networking opportunities where you can discuss competitive intelligence processes, job opportunities and classes.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find schools that offer professional programs, degrees or business intelligence certification

If you're interested in earning a competitive intelligence degree or accreditation to find employment with a company or consulting group, find a school near you to discover the course requirements, fees and availability.

I recommend: Simmons Graduate School of Library and Information Science features a Competitive Intelligence Center that offers a masters degree and certificate program in the specialized strategy. The program also accepts professionals who simply want to take competitive intelligence classes without earning a degree. Earn certification through the Competitive Intelligence Professional Certificate Program offered by the Fuld-Gilad-Herring Academy of Competitive Intelligence.

Use a competitive intelligence training program online for self-paced learning

Obtain information and introductory training in competitive intelligence through an online class or business intelligence tutorial. Self-paced and virtual courses allow you to explore the new career without taking time off your current job.

I recommend: Find online and virtual seminars and competitive intelligence education through the listings at Training-Classes.com. Topics include data collection, analysis, online research and building a competitive intelligence system. An online course from Click University covers the fundamentals of competitive intelligence, including research and data analysis.

Join industry groups to discover competitive intelligence courses and training opportunities

Business, educational and social events provided for the members of industry associations will allow you to get more information on competitive intelligence training, as well as uncovering the most important research skills and ways to successfully implement the business practices.

I recommend: The Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals provides networking opportunities and business intelligence education events on Competitive Intelligence programs and basics. Find educational opportunities and information resources focusing on competitive intelligence through the Competitive Intelligence Division of Special Libraries Association.

It's nearly impossible to establish or run a successful business if you don't understand who your competitors are. Additionally, you should have a working knowledge about other companies you do business with that are vital to your success, like distributors and suppliers. Competitive intelligence is the vehicle to get you that information, and if you're not familiar with the concept, you should look for training and education opportunities to get you on your way.

Understanding the key terms involved with competitive intelligence education and training will make your search for courses and programs more effective and more efficient. This guide includes definitions to six key terms: competitive intelligence, ACI, CIP certification, IACET, SCIP and war game.

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Competitive Intelligence

Competitive Intelligence (CI) refers to the legal and ethical practice of collecting, analyzing and sharing information about companies another company does business with. This is for business planning and decision-making purposes. A company can collect and use competitive intelligence about its direct competitors, customers, suppliers, distributors, potential competitors and more.

I recommend: Get a better grip on the concept of competitive intelligence and its potential in the article from Aurora WDC, a company offering primary research, competitive analysis, software and systems, intelligence training and process consulting.

ACI

The core focus of the Fuld-Gilad-Herring Academy of Competitive Intelligence (ACI), an education and training institution, is to train managers, senior executives and other professionals to manage business risks more effectively and anticipate new business opportunities through competitive intelligence. ACI originated in 1999 with the merger of two competitive intelligence companies, Gilad-Herring ACI and Fuld & Company, a training organization.

I recommend: Learn more about ACI from one of the academy's co-founders, Fuld & Company.

CIP certification

Competitive Intelligence Professional (CIP) certification refers to the professional program designed and conducted by ACI's top educators and thinkers. ACI is the only educational institution offering an accredited CIP certificate program that grants continuing education units in business or competitive intelligence. Earning the certification requires completion of nine formal courses, completion of a written exam and at least a 75% average.

I recommend: Get all the details you need on the CIP Certificate Program at the ACI website.

IACET

IACET stands for the International Association for Continuing Education and Training. This non-profit organization certifies continuing education and training institutions and providers that adhere to strict guidelines. The guidelines, called ANSI/IACET 1-2007 Standard, encompass all aspects of a school's program, including program design, development and delivery processes. When looking for qualified, legitimate competitive intelligence education and training, you won't go wrong with a training provider that's labeled as an IACET Authorized Provider (AP).

I recommend: Get more information on IACET Authorized Provider status at the IACET website.

SCIP

SCIP is the acronym for the Society of Competitive Intelligence Professionals, a global organization that has committed to leadership, education, networking and advocacy in the realm of CI since 1986.

I recommend: Find out about upcoming CI training and educational events at the SCIP website.

War game

A war game is traditionally a simulated military exercise used to train military members. With regard to competitive intelligence, a war game is a fun, intriguing and challenging way for business leaders and professionals to learn about and apply CI tools and strategies in a non-threatening environment.

I recommend: Learn more about business war games and how playing them can ultimately help your business from Ben Gilad's Business War Games.