Best Practices in Competitive & Business
Intelligence

CIRCA’s Intelligence-Gathering Approach

CIRCA’s methodology is carefully designed to ensure the most effective intelligence gathering possible. Our professionals begin by working closely with clients to gain a clear understanding of their objectives, an essential step in determining what information must be collected to achieve project goals.

Once the client’s priorities are defined, CIRCA specifies the target information to be gathered, identifies the most effective approach for obtaining it, and documents the requirements. These are then shared with the client to encourage collaboration during the project scope and definition phase. While the detailed approach may vary depending on where the intelligence resides, CIRCA consistently applies several core principles:

  • Appropriate Use of a Thesis and Avoidance of a Narrow Information Funnel

      • CIRCA deliberately postpones applying a thesis until the project is well underway, ensuring that no critical information is overlooked. Applying a thesis too early can prematurely narrow the information funnel, leading to incomplete or misaligned results, such as the right answer to the wrong question.

     

  • Use of Precisely Targeted Subject Matter Experts

      • Thanks to our in-house executive recruiting capability, CIRCA engages only the most qualified sources, whether industry, government, or academia; current C-Suite executives; or retired senior leaders. This ensures we never compromise on the expertise needed to provide accurate, relevant insights.

     

  • Avoidance of Assumptions and Biases

      • CIRCA professionals excel at suspending assumptions and avoiding bias. While we rely on Subject Matter Experts for domain-specific insights, our team itself remains industry-agnostic and focuses solely on collecting unbiased information. This discipline prevents distortions and ensures that all perspectives are considered.

     

  • Recognition of When Information is Complete

      • CIRCA’s professionals have the experience and judgment to know when enough information has been gathered. We recognize that multiple perspectives, even seemingly contradictory ones, must often be reconciled to form a complete picture. Our expertise lies in discerning when additional information is required and in weaving diverse perspectives into a cohesive, accurate assessment.