This post, ” Competitive Intelligence Analysts Need to Learn to Code says Trip, is the latest in our series of questions to respected professionals. This week, we speak with Trip Krant, a US-based Competitive Intelligence professional who is an outstanding thinker and offers edgy, straight-to-the-point opinions. He is currently working within a stealth start-up, and we are sure whatever it is, it will be very interesting. This is not an article about coding for kids. At the end of this series of questions, we will analyse the answers and publish a report.
1. In your view, what’s Competitive Intelligence?
I like to use Gregory Bateson’s definition of Information: CI is the difference of the difference or the difference that makes a difference.
2. In your view, what’s the true benefit of CI?
Shared Situational Awareness.
3. How would you advise a company with no experience in Competitive Intelligence to get started?
Learn Wardley Mapping. Add “filetype:pdf” to your Google searches.
4. What analytical tools do you recommend?
Wardley Mapping, Network Analysis.
5. Competitive Intelligence is becoming too much about risk mitigation, copying the competitor and the last dataset. And not enough about growth, exploration and creation. It can prevent people from being original, taking risks, and being creative enough. Do you agree?
Yes.
6. Without giving away anything confidential, what’s the best result you have achieved with CI?
Don’t know.
7. Artificial Intelligence and platforms will transform CI, and there will be no need for human input in the future. Is the longevity of the job of a Competitive Intelligence analyst limited? Do you agree?
Somewhat.
8. Finally, what’s the one piece of advice you would give a CI analyst?
Learn to code. Coding is a superpower. Can do many CI-related tasks like web scraping, text analytics, network analysis, and working with APIs. Also, as the saying goes, “Software is eating the world” – knowledge of code helps you understand the digital transformation of industries and competition.
In this article, ” Competitive Intelligence Analysts Need to Learn to Code, Trip Krant answered our questions. This article is part of a series where we ask great people who really understand Competitive Intelligence their thoughts on the subject.
