Intelligence is Everybody's Business

The recent speech delivered on November 9, 2006 by Eliza Manningham-Buller, Director-General of MI5, on the terrorist threat facing the UK is one of those rare occasions when an expert outlines the true nature of intelligence work. Rodger Nevill Harding, author of the recently released book "Corporate Intelligence Awareness: Securing the Competitive Edge," discusses the direct business parallels.

Toronto, ON (PRWEB) November 14, 2006 -- The recent speech delivered on November 9, 2006 by Eliza Manningham-Buller, Director-General of MI5, on the terrorist threat facing the UK is one of those rare occasions when an expert outlines the true nature of intelligence work. Rodger Nevill Harding, author of the recently released book "Corporate Intelligence Awareness: Securing the Competitive Edge," discusses the direct business parallels.

Good intelligence predicts what might happen in the future - a series of often disparate clues that gives rise to theories that, if applied in time, might influence business strategy and planning. There are a lot of mights and maybes in intelligence, says Harding.

It would appear that Manningham-Buller agrees: "It is understandable that people are reluctant to accept assertions that do not always appear to be substantiated. It is right to be skeptical about intelligence… I wish life were like 'Spooks,' where everything is (a) knowable, and (b) soluble by six people. But those whose plans we wish to detect in advance are determined to conceal from us what they intend to do. And every day they learn. From the mistakes of others. From what they discover of our capabilities from evidence presented in court, and from leaks to the media. Moreover, intelligence is usually bitty and needs piecing together, assessing, judging. It takes objectivity, integrity and a skeptical eye to make good use of intelligence: even the best of it never tells the whole story."

There has always been a justifiable need to know in the business world. At best, only on a balance of probability can every changing variable of business, client, supplier and competitor be successfully evaluated. This task cannot be undertaken without as complete an operational or industry awareness and interaction possible. It does not take much effort to see why intelligence is not a popular business topic. Planners and strategists would much rather work within known and safe parameters. The problem is that the rapid and enormous daily exchange of information, changing global economic factors, and sophisticated spying technology makes it almost impossible to keep a secret for long and raises the price of staying competitive. As with counter-insurgency intelligence, the need to know often spills over into the realm of the unethical or worse, an ends-justifies-the-means mindset.

Harding, who in his book advocates the ethical and relatively cost free alternative of people awareness in securing and protecting corporate intelligence, was particularly excited by Manningham-Buller's remark that: "Safety for us all means working together to protect those we care about, being alert to the danger without over-reacting, and reporting concerns… We must realise that there are significant differences between faiths and communities within our society, and most people, from whatever origin..."

"Simply put," Harding says, "we are talking about a continually-changing context. Providing necessary background and depth to uncertain predictions is a task that is never done. It is also too big a job for assigned staff members alone. Imagine the benefit when the full employee component of any corporation or industry sector acts as the eyes, ears, and firewall of the organization! Imagine what a cost effective resource this would be?" Corporate Intelligence Awareness, according to Harding, is a concept that not only works, but is great team builder, providing a sense of common purpose and usefulness that strengthens the organizational fabric.

All that is required is a team creatively alert for random clues as to what might happen in their area of operation, and the adequate technology to record, store and deliver the information to the appropriate analysts and decision-makers. The same alert workforce, realizing how easy it is to ethically get hold of intelligence, will be circumspect about what it lets walk out the door. This, in turn, would allow for the evolution of a priceless climate of corporate security.

Without good, contextual and relevant intelligence, unimaginative decision-making results in one-dimensional promises of certainty and the acceptance of clichéd inaccuracies. These will ultimately erode the trust and support that employees have for authority figures and those whom they perceive to be in the know.

Imagine the corporate confidence of the organization that adopts the mantra from a recent billboard from AIM Trimark Investments: "Knowing Pays"… "Foresight beats hindsight every time." Knowing that the entire team is on board, corporations can make a conscious step into uncertainty much easier.

In his new book, Harding describes step-by-step how an organization can develop an intelligence-gathering strategy that does not cross legal or ethical boundaries. He describes how to gather the required information, analyze and process data, and ensure that the resulting product is made available to decision makers as soon as possible. Importantly, he links efficient intelligence gathering to effective corporate strategy development, planning, and product or service evolution.

ABOUT RODGER HARDING
Rodger Nevill Harding, B.A., LLB is a former career diplomat for the South African government. While working there, he was awarded the Star of South Africa - the nation's then highest honour - for his work in intelligence gathering and strategy development. He is the president of Harding International & Associates Inc. (http://www.corporateintelligenceawareness.com/) a Toronto-based management consulting firm teaching intelligence strategy development to corporate executives and government officials.

ABOUT MULTI-MEDIA PUBLICATIONS
Founded in 1988, Multi-Media Publications Inc. is an independent publisher of business books, ebooks, and audiobooks. Its latest book, "Corporate Intelligence Awareness: Securing the Competitive Edge" (ISBN 1895186420, $43.95) is available from most online and traditional book retailers. Please visit http://www.mmpubs.com for more information.

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