You're reading the February 2009 issue of Research Helpline. It is a "quick read" monthly e-bulletin -- about 300 words -- and features tips and commentary on research resources and news of interest.
Being Competitive During a Recession
The most important distinguishing feature of successful companies - in good times and bad times - is how they monitor and respond to events and market conditions. Unless you notice what is happening, you will not be able to respond to it, nor know what your competitors are doing, or what business opportunities exist. A crisis brings all kinds of opportunities to those who are knowledgeable.
Competitive intelligence (CI) can help you anticipate and minimize risk, identify opportunities and new markets, make sound decisions and improve strategic thinking and allocate resources. Intelligence activities are based on the intelligence cycle:
- Identify your information needs
- Collect relevant information
- Analyze it
- Communicate the results to the people who need it
- Take rapid and appropriate action
A "knowledge map" is a tool used to help locate people possessing, or having access to, specific knowledge or expertise. A knowledge map is sometimes incorporated into an intranet or other repository shared by employees. Care and maintenance of it in light of changing conditions is mandatory for it to be useful over time.
Thanks to www.knowledgeboard.com and others in the CI community.
So many people liked this link in the January 2009 Research Helpline, I'm keeping it again:
A list of over 125 social networking sites is found at:
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_websites.
Information Overload Getting Worse!
Every year, research firm Basex calculates the cost of information overload and the numbers keep going up by a staggering amount. For 2008, Basex estimates information overload cost the U.S. economy $900 billion in lost productivity. For 2006, that figure was $588 billion. Find out more at http://www.localcalculator.com
The Citizen Journalist's Guide to Open Government
An extensive multimedia e-learning module to help new media makers understand how to obtain public records and get into public meetings launched last month on the Knight Citizen News Network - www.kcnn.org.
New to Research Helpline?
If you're new to Research Helpline, you will find previous editions from 2007-to current, archived in the News section of Halpern Info Services at http://www.halperninfoservices.com.
Halpern Info Services is in the knowledge business. Since every client's needs differ, we customize services to each specific situation. When an "off the shelf" report raises more questions than provides answers, call us in to find the answers you really need. We help you command and control the most important information you need to be competitive and knowledgeable today.
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