Working With RivalScape

RivalScape Services & WCI Program Development

1. Conduct a WCI audit and needs assessment
2. Digest and condense the audit into specific key intelligence topics
3. Create customized systems and processes
4. Develop internal staff with effective screening, customized training and team building exercises
5. Recruit external talent as needed
6. Set up external vendor services as needed
7. Draft job descriptions and performance standards
8. Evaluate and select productivity-enhancing software and tools
9. Institute a Workforce Information Security Program™
10. Generate performance measurements
11. Lead planning and kickoff meetings

1. Conduct a WCI audit and needs assessment

- In the HR-related intelligence arena, this might involve competitive employment branding, competitor labor cost and productivity, workforce diversity, and competitor HR Scorecards, to name but a few possibilities.

- On the corporate strategic front, vital intelligence needs could include anything from competitive M&A activities and global expansion plans to R&D innovations and technology platforms; from pending regulatory changes to a competitor’s new product rollout strategy.

The key task here is to get a crystal-clear picture of precisely what critical intelligence objectives your WCI program will target. And since the external landscape and your intelligence needs continually shift, we recommend routine periodic reviews of the WCI audit.

2. Digest and condense the audit into specific key intelligence topics

In this stage, we work together to translate the needs assessment results into clearly stated key intelligence topics (KITs). The defining of KITs focuses and targets resources to collect meaningful data and distinguish the signal from the noise.

3. Create customized systems and processes

Here we help you design the systems, procedures and plans for conducting WCI collection, analysis and dissemination. Two WCI systems, the Competitor Alumni Program™ (CAP) and the Pre-Retirement Insight Management Exchange™ (PRIME) are so important that we devote a special page each.

Two important considerations at this juncture are:

a. Determining where in the company a WCI program will reside – typically in either the CI or HR function – and how HR and CI staff will interface;

b. Deciding which WCI components might be more effectively outsourced.

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4. Develop internal staff with effective screening, customized training and team building exercises

Using time-tested, validated assessment instruments to increase the odds of a good fit, we will help you conduct initial screening and selection of employees to carry out the in-house WCI responsibilities. A key decision is whether to train existing HR personnel in competitive intelligence or train current competitive intelligence professionals in HR policies and practices. We can help you make this important choice and then develop and deliver a customized WCI training program. We can also help you create cohesiveness with innovative team building exercises.

5. Recruit external talent as needed

WCI staff development might also involve identifying and recruiting external business research and intelligence professionals to join your team. We are seasoned executive recruiters with large talent networks in both the CI and HR worlds. If you decide to recruit WCI staff from the outside, we can assist in developing the job specifications and conducting a comprehensive recruitment campaign to make a successful hire.

6. Set up external vendor services as needed

Our deep backgrounds in both CI and HR have provided us with extended professional networks in both fields, enabling us to provide expert evaluation, selection and management of vendors for any outsourced WCI functions.

7. Draft job descriptions and performance standards

We will write detailed, comprehensive job descriptions for internal staff, and we will create performance standards and first-year goals and expectations for both internal staff and outside contractors.

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8. Evaluate and select productivity-enhancing software and tools

There are a growing number of database and software packages that can significantly enhance WCI productivity. We’ll help you choose the best programs for your needs and also set up related research portals and intranet content.

9. Institute a Workforce Information Security Program™

It makes no sense to collect great intelligence from the outside but be leaky as a sieve on the inside. Yet more often than not, companies do not take the necessary steps to safeguard their own strategic information as well as they could. We’ll help you set up a Workforce Information Security Program™ (WISP) with policies, plans and tactics to protect valuable information and retain your competitive advantage.

10. Generate performance measurements

To measure program results in a meaningful and usable manner, we will help you develop specific milestones, expected results and other relevant criteria with which to judge the progress and success of your WCI program on an ongoing basis.

11. Lead planning and kickoff meetings

Getting everybody on board from the start can make or break any innovative new company venture. To help you build internal support for your WCI program, we will lead key planning and program kickoff meetings with your staff and senior management.

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RivalScape might perform any or all of the above services depending on your needs, goals and resources. Flexibility, agility and responsiveness are hallmarks or our client work.

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