Developing a Typology of Competitive Intelligence Proficiency: The Case of French SMEs and Funded Intervention Programs

Abstract

This article reports on a study about the evolution of SMEs’ Competitive Intelligence (CI) practices, in the French context of a public CI policy. Fifteen Directors of CI programs at Chambers of Commerce were interviewed and 176 SME decision-makers surveyed. An important contribution is a typology of SMEs including perceived constraints, advisors, and attitudes towards CI. We conclude that SMEs find appropriate help through publicly funded programs at the early stages of CI practice, whereas consultants are effective to guide them towards higher levels of performance. The findings are of significance to SME managers, CI providers and policy decision-makers.

Identifying the main factors involved in business intelligence implementation in SMEs

“…At first, it was believed that large companies were the only ones that were able to implement this type of technology, nevertheless, subsequently, and because of the importance of SMEs in the economic context, the implementation of BI in them has been the subject of study of multiple authors, such as Boonsiritomachai [26] focused on the impact of BI implementation in SMEs in the industrial, hotel, and marke ting sectors. Cho, Yoon, Coh, and Lee [27] identified the BI practices carried out by SMEs in the manufacturing sector in Korea; Larivet, Smith, & Wright [28] and Smith, Wright, & Pickton [29] also identified BI practices in the economic intelligence policies in France and BI practices in the Argentinian SMEs by Tovar [30] were studied.…”