Overview

If Hewlett Packard knew what Hewlett Packard knows, we would be 3 times more profitable.

(Lew Platt)

Creating a smarter business requires:

• both business intelligence and counterintelligence

• marketplace data and research from private and public sources

• clear and powerful direction from top management

• focusing attention on learning hot spots

• championing sharing and innovation efforts.

Being on the cutting edge

The good news in twenty-first century business is that you do not have to be rich in financial terms to be knowledgeable and competitive. A little ingenuity can go a long way. In the knowledge era, know-how and ingenuity has become the major barometer for national, regional and business wealth. In most developed economies the majority of wealth is now in the form of human capital, intellectual capital and talent rather than physical capital such as plant and equipment.

Knowledge and being on the cutting edge is without doubt the key competitive advantage not only for private sector, but also for all forms of government- and community-based organizations.

The benefits of creating a smarter business can be vast and can include a long list of benefits such as superior insights into customer behaviours, more finely tuned service delivery and repeat business. A better understanding of the marketplace and trends ensures a better cycle of innovation and operational efficiency through a more responsive decision-making process, thereby greatly assisting your chances of being successful by the better use and mix of talent, intellectual capital and customer relationships.