Abstract

Competitive intelligence is a relatively new field that has been gaining prominence over the past decade, coinciding with a remarkable increase in firms' adoption of information systems. Competitive intelligence's increased prominence has been noticeable, both in the academic literature and in industry. In simple terms, competitive intelligence is meaningful information that allows you to be aware of your competitive environment. Most academic research into the subject has focused on large corporations while overlooking smaller companies. This study focuses on small companies. Based on a multiple case study, it investigates the prevalence of CI activity among small companies, the sophistication of this activity and the attitudes that owners hold towards the subject. It identifies several factors that may account for shaping CI activity, including the industry, the presence of networks of friends among competitors, and general attitudes towards competition.