Sharp Connection: Linking Competitive Intelligence and Intranets

Abstract

Assessing the value of ICT to support Competitive Intelligence presumes an understanding of the relationship between the two. The chapter argues that starting from either the ICT or CI side to this relationship and linking to the other, as most studies do, cannot secure a fully adequate conception of ICT’s value to CI. Instead, the challenge is to find an appropriate foundation in the relationship itself and use it as a stepping stone for developing an understanding of both ICT and CI. The chapter proposes to use and develop the concept of acceptability to provide that foundation. Acceptability offers a natural connection between the technology and CI sides. An object—e.g., a technology—cannot be acceptable in a void, but presumes a relation to a context or a subject—e.g., the CI function—to be considered acceptable or unacceptable. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Task-Technology Fit model (TTF) provide useful elements to develop this approach further. The chapter presents the case of an intranet to support CI, called IntraTel, to illustrate the argument.