This article on Wikipedia provides some understanding of the strategy of "competitive intelligence".

One section states "Marketing research is a tactical, methods-driven field that consists mainly of neutral primary research that draws on customer data in the form of beliefs and perceptions as gathered through surveys or focus groups, and is analyzed through the application of statistical research techniques. In contrast, Compttitive Intelligence, CI,  typically draws on a wider variety (i.e., both primary and secondary) of sources, from a wider range of stakeholders (e.g., suppliers, competitors, distributors, substitutes, media, and so on), and seeks not just to answer existing questions but also to raise new ones and to guide action.

The Tutor/Mentor Connection seeks to support this concept. We bring togehter a wide range of information related to poverty, education, non-profit and business sector organizations, etc., and encourage its use by every visitor to this web site. The goal is not just to answer questions about where tutor/mentor programs are located, or how they operate, or where they find dollars, but to raise new questions and guide actions that would lead to more and better k-16 programs serving as a pipeline from pre school into jobs and careers for those born in high poverty parts of Chicago and other cities.

Through forums like this one, and conferences that we host every six months in Chicago, we seek to encourage social-networking and relationship building, that is an essential component of competitivie intelligence.  As the article says, " although the Internet is viewed as a key source, most CI professionals should spend their time and budget gathering intelligence using primary research — networking with industry experts, from trade shows and conferences, from their own customers and suppliers, and so on." 

T/MC seeks  to support this by encouraging the people we connect through this web site, our email newsletters, and our networking in a variety of other on-line forums, with each other and with a wider range of information than might otherwise be available in the decision making and process improvement of most small and medium size non profit organizations.

Tell us what you think. Do you understand this concept? Do you use a strategy of "competitive intelligence" to learn ways to improve the impact of your organization on the lives of youth living in poverty?