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Mapping Competitive Intelligence Information /technologyevolution

  • 1.  Mapping Competitive Intelligence Information /technologyevolution

    Posted 04-15-1998 21:38
    Paul Hsi <Paul.Hsi@NCAL.KAIPERM.ORG> writes:

    > Have you tried getting a large sheet of paper? Big white sheet and a
    > sharpie might also work for you.
    >
    > It sounds to me like you are trying to do too much on the same page. I
    >do use viso for mapping, but things usually work better if a sketch can be
    >made on a chart pad or a white >board first.
    >
    > Good luck.
    >
    >


    That's the problem-we have too many sheets of white paper & it's hard to
    spot emergent patterns or trends, the way you would if used the equivalent
    of a financial spread sheet and pulled out data according to various
    attributes.

    Walter Derzko
    Director Brain Space
    (formerly the Idea Lab at
    the Design Exchange)
    Toronto
    (416) 588-1122
    wderzko@pathcom.com

    ----------
    > Dear colleagues,
    >
    > I'm looking for a software program to help me visualize the
    > growth/emergence/ alliance-formation or breakup of a number of startup
    > firms in a particular software/hardware sector that produces enabling
    > technology that is important for our client. The dilemma for the client
    is
    > that it needs to know early-on in the game who is going to be a dominant
    > player in given technology sector, so that it can anticipate and provide
    > compatible platforms.
    >
    > We would like to provide that anticipatory capability by visually
    > representing that evolution.
    > (assumption: number of small unequal players --> one or two dominant
    > ones over time)
    >
    > Is anyone using visualization software to track the evolution
    > of various new technologies or products/services before they hit the
    > marketplace ? (there are likely to be a large number of variables, and
    > multiple data points i.e. over 100 plus small niche players etc.)
    >
    > Traditional concept mapping software is too linear and static and isn't
    > for that kind of application (linking decision point in an emerging
    > dynamic system)
    >
    > I'm looking for suggestions on how one can visually map the landscape of
    > emerging companies who have various products or services in the
    > development stage and ready for commercialization 6 months to a year
    > down the road-the assumption here is that this information is publicly
    > available or can be anticipated in advance.
    >
    > Ideally, the software should be able to isolate various decision paths,
    > forward and
    > backwards in time i.e.. highlighting assumptions, distant and close
    > environmental
    > factors, impacts on other interconnected decisions and down-the-road
    > consequences. We are also looking at linking this evolution to
    "wildcards"
    > in the environment-real or potential, strategic decisions that have to be
    > made or issues
    > that need to be addressed and assumptions behind those issues.
    > As well it should be able to draw a map that optimizes the least number
    of
    > interconnections. I can manually map this out but software should
    > improve the process
    >
    > I was thinking of using a radar or target metaphor ( with the inner
    > circle being the commercial /launched to market stage and each concentric
    > outward ring indicating a time or event period -with appropriate
    benchmarks
    > or
    > milestones, prior to commercialization) or a hidden box metaphor(where
    > the box grows as it approaches a launch to market stage).
    >
    > I've noticed that concept mapping software such as Decision Explorer
    > (formerly COPE) by Banxia < http://www.banxia.com >does not seem to
    > have a time dependent feature that would allow you to represent related
    > corporate decisions or strategic issues along a y-time axis. This would
    > be an important feature in our "knowledge maps"
    >
    > Ideas and suggestions for other software are welcome
    >
    > Walter Derzko
    > Director Brain Space
    > (formerly the Idea Lab at
    > the Design Exchange)
    > Toronto
    > (416) 588-1122
    > wderzko@pathcom.com