Intelligence Process Planning

Any information flow and data transfer needs well designed and thoroughly established processes both system-wise and for individuals to work along well defined operational boundaries.

Efficiency and reliability are of the essence for business intelligence processes to work properly and sustainable.

From market intelligence requirements, gathering of information, collection and indexing of data to producing abstracts and intelligence summaries to dissemination, processes guarantee smooth or less efficient operation of market and competitive intelligence functions and output.

First, depending on scope and objectives of the intelligence operation and based on intelligence users requirements, a work sequence needs to be defined. That sequence should address all major milestones to ensure that all necessary information and data is extracted, processed and provided.

Market Intelligence Sequence

Naturally this sequence would include tasks for the intelligence unit and those for businesses, in the case of market & competitive intelligence most likely marketing & sales.

Divided into active, pro-active and performance sequence steps all major intelligence functions would have to address intelligence demand, supply and application / implementation.

In order for the market & competitive intelligence process to gain and maintain a life by itself, run smoothly and efficiently and create major impact by delivering business value for savings, speeding up the decision processes and make marketers and sales staffers smarter in their routines, business intelligence milestones will have to be brought into a self contained life cycle.

Intelligence Life Cycle

The intelligence functions process and sequence have to be embedded in this intelligence life cycle, guaranteeing maximum semi-automated flow of data and information as well as productivity and transparence of responsibilities and accountability for the various intelligence steps and results.

Step-wise processes as shown in the graph below should be negotiated, established and anchored in role profiles, performance and skills assessments between the intelligence unit and other groups such as networks of market researchers and analysts and other marketing & sales functions plus management.

Market Intelligence Step Process