The systematic collection, analysis, and application of publicly available information about competitors, market trends, and industry dynamics to support strategic decision-making. It involves legal and ethical research to understand the competitive landscape.
Combines 'competitive' (Latin 'competere' meaning 'to strive together') with 'intelligence' (Latin 'intelligere' meaning 'to understand'). The practice emerged from military intelligence concepts applied to business in the 1980s, as global competition intensified and information became more accessible through technology.
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