Abstract:
Competitive intelligence (CI) has long been recognised as a strategic management tool
that could enhance competitiveness. CI is expected to play an essential developmental
role in emerging economies. The need to enhance companies’ competitiveness has
grown rapidly. CI is essential, and will increasingly be a challenge in the years
to come, especially for emerging economies. This article will compare CI
activities in South Africa with CI activities in Brazil. Companies in these two
countries have faced increased environmental uncertainty and increasingly there
is a need to compete. A questionnaire survey methodology was used where
questionnaires were administered to CI experts in organisations in South Africa and
Brazil. The findings of the study revealed that only a limited number of organisations in
Brazil and South Africa recognise the importance of a CI unit. It was also interesting to
note that the CI function is more mature in South Africa than in Brazil. As Brazil and
South Africa become more integrated into the global economy, it stands to reason that
the global economy will have more of an impact on the countries’ economies. To this end
it has become more crucial to monitor global events and trends and it is very important
for both countries to develop a CI culture.
