"Competitive intelligence (CI) is the practice of gathering and analyzing information about competitors in order to gain an edge in the marketplace - for example, by anticipating their next moves and beating them to the punch, or by shoring up one's own company's defenses prior to an anticipated assault." "In this book, contributions from researchers, scholars, and practitioners specializing in competitive intelligence reveal the most current practices in the field. In-depth analysis of emerging approaches to CI in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia, and in industries across the spectrum - from pharmaceuticals to automotive supply chains - highlight the ways in which practicing CI globally is fundamentally different from doing so in a static, one-country context. The authors offer fresh insights and recommendations for CI specialists, strategic planners and executives, marketers and product developers, and anyone studying competition and strategy."--Jacket.