Course detail

Competitive Intelligence

FP-OciPAcad. year: 2026/2027

The course is focused on obtaining of information about competition in legally and ethically way. The aim of the course is to provide students theoretical foundations and methodology necessary for obtaining of information about competition in legally and ethically way. Emphasis is placed on learning the procedures for the analysis of the information obtained as a basic procedure.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

5

Assignment to study programme types

Master's

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Ing. František Bartes, CSc.

Department

Department of Economics (ÚE)

Entry knowledge

The process of strategic management, business analysis professional environment, analysis of internal company factors, basic computer skills.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Completion of the course in the presence form:

Credit:

  1. a) presentation of the assigned task (team work)
  2. b) preparation of the semester paper (team work).

Exam:

written form. The student receives two questions, for the answers of which he has a defined time period of 20 minutes. The exam is classified according to the ECTS scale.

 

Completion of the course for students with individual study:

Credit: preparation of the semester paper (individual work), which will be sent to the lecturer.

Exam: written form. The student receives two questions, for the answers of which he has a defined time period of 20 minutes. The exam is classified according to the ECTS scale.

 

Completion of the course in the distance form:

Credit: preparation of the semester paper (individual work), which will be sent to the lecturer..

Exam: test via e-learning. The exam is classified according to the ECTS scale.

Aims

The aim is to enable students to understand the issues of information systems which are necessary to gather information about competitors and equip students with skills for obtaining legal information about competitors and their subsequent evaluation.
Students will understand modern approaches and methods for gathering and evaluating information about a competitor, about the competitive environment including the creation of added value which is needed to obtain intelligence. Students will become familiar with the software tools used in Competitive Intelligence. They will also master the protection of business secrets of the company.

Study aids

Publications:

BARTES, František. Konkurenční zpravodajství. Tvorba podkladů pro strategické rozhodování podniku. Praha: Grada, 2022. ISBN 978-80-271-3504-2.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

BARTES, František. Konkurenční zpravodajství. Tvorba podkladů pro strategické rozhodování podniku. Praha: Grada, 2022. ISBN 978-80-271-3504-2. (CS)

Recommended reading

CARR, M. M. a R. BASCH. Super searchers on competitive intelligence: the online and offline secrets of top CI researchers. Medford, N.J.: CyberAge Books, 2003. ISBN 0-910965-64-1.
FULD, L, M. The New Competitor Intelligence. The Complete Resource for Finding, Analysing, and Using Information About Your Competitors. 1995. 482 p. ISBN 0-471-58508-4.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme MGR-MEO Master's 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. František Bartes, CSc.

Syllabus

1. Introduction, definition of CI, basic concepts CI.
2. Background to CI.
3. CI Intelligence Process. Basic Intelligence Process CI.
4. A five-phase model of the Intelligence Process.
5. ACH method - 1.part.
6. ACH method - 2.part.
7. ACH method - 3.part.
8. Validation of Key Assumptions.
9. Time analysis, patent analysis.
10. Counter Competitive Intelligence - 1.part.
11. Counter Competitive Intelligence - 2.part.
12. The process of introducing CI in the enterprise.
13. The most common mistakes in introducing CI into an enterprise, AI pitfalls.

Exercise

13 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. František Bartes, CSc.

Syllabus

1. Ethics in Competitive Intelligence, assignment of tasks.
2. Modern concept of Competitive Intelligence
3. Analysis of competing hypotheses - Part 1.
4. Analysis of competing hypotheses - Part 2.
5. Checking key assumptions.
6. Competitive Intelligence reporting audit.
7. Basic Counter Competitive Intelligence reporting process. Inclusion: Checking missions completed, submitting seminar work.