Business and Competitive Analysis: Effective Application of New and Classic Methods

by Craig S. Fleisher, Babette E. Bensoussan

The Definitive How-To Guide for Business and Competitive Analysis Business success begins with deep clarity about your competition and your business environment. But, even as data gathering has improved dramatically, few business professionals know the state-of-the-art techniques for analyzing their data. Now there’s a comprehensive, immensely practical guide to today’s best tools and techniques for answering tough questions and making actionable recommendations. Business and Competitive Analysis begins with end-to-end guidance on the analysis process, including defining problems, avoiding analytical pitfalls, choosing tools, and communicating results. Next, the authors offer detailed guides on 24 of today’s most valuable analysis techniques that have never been brought together in one book before.They offer in-depth, step-by-step guidance for using every technique—along with realistic assessments of strengths, weaknesses, feasibility, and business value.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction

528 pages, Paperback

First published February 27, 2007

Reviews

[Lauren Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A useful if somewhat dry presentation of methods of analysis. For each method, the authors provide discussion of what situation(s) it would be used in, what would be necessary in order to complete the analysis, what the strengths and flaws of it are, and examples of its use(real-world or invented). They evaluate each using their own method--FAROUT--which breaks down each method's future orientation, accuracy, resource efficiency, objectivity usefulness and timeliness. There are also fairly long bibliographies for each that provide an interested reader with more to explore.

[Stela · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this is one of the most comprehensive collection of methods to analyze business and competition, the book was somewhat dry and felt as more of a college textbook than a guide for business professionals.

Pros:
Great collection of methods, with a description, FAROUT analysis and case studies for most of them,

Cons:
The authors did not share as much of their vast experience on the methods as they did in other of their books; more personalized approach towards the different methods would have been very welcomed by professionals with a specific problem at hand, looking for the right tools (methods).

[Lori Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read book on competitive intelligence for knowledge workers who want to be in executive role and entrepreneurs.

[Blake Kanewischer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very solid book that could be used as a text or a reference; definitely not to be read straight through.