Resources

Updated and Enriched Edition of the Manuel d’intelligence économique

The 2nd edition, updated and enriched, of the Manuel d’intelligence économique (competitive intelligence textbook) is published at the Presses Universitaires de France. Under the supervision of Christian Harbulot, Spin Partners founder and director, the textbook is the major work about competitive intelligence in France.

Romain Goldschmidt, Influence Department Manager, and Augustin Roch, Studies Department Manager, are some of the authors, writing two case studies (summary below):


United States and Google: coopetition of powers, by Romain Goldschmidt.
Digital technologies draw a new geography of power, transcending traditional boundaries of Nations. The power, once related to the domination of the seas, is now determined by cyberspace control. But Europe appears very vulnerable in this new context. Indeed, Edward Snowden’s revelations confirm to the world the extraordinary conquest methods used by the United States: massive and globalized espionage, in collaboration with Internet giants. Thus, the libertarian utopia of Internet born from the will of activists and isolated entrepreneurs, spontaneously supported by civil society, fainted. A favorable context – and more than that, a certain ambition -, is at work in the United States for fifty years. It combines government, Defense complex, universities and industries.


Until the early 2010s, this has been effective in ensuring the development of the Internet and its US domination. Today, the Snowden affair has weakened the reputation and strength of this alliance, challenging the balance of power. In fact, American power is now to the test while private actors, like Google, are continuing their conquest with absolute power targets.


Greenpeace in a media trap, by Augustin Roch.
Greenpeace remains apart from other nongovernmental organizations: exclusively environmental claims, from lobbying to media coup (still nonviolent), a centralized and hierarchical organization, and its financial and political independence. Having understood very early the power of communication, it has professionalised the systematic use to create a reputation for uncompromising defender of the environment. Nevertheless, the NGO has completed this method by an institutional strategy, i.e. negotiation and expertise that support and feed the media action.


However, Greenpeace has a constraint: maintaining its incorruptible NGO reputation in the eyes of its members, civil society and its political and economic partners. But this context leads to a pernicious media process. The need to continuously strengthen its reputation of integrity and accountability… that can lead to excesses, still poorly exploited by its opponents.


More informations and table of contents of the Manuel d’intelligence économique.