Business and Competitiveness Intelligence: an Ethical Frameworks Approach

Abstract

The more information organizations have the better their decision is. Business intelligence (BI) is the most up to date method of taking organizations to this position. Business Intelligence therefore guarantees organizations better business decision-making and is thus vital for any major private company or governmental institution. The ultimate goal of Business Intelligence (BI) initiative is to deliver data in the most appropriate way for making informed business decisions.
Business intelligence intends to support improved business decision-making, though the term business intelligence is sometimes used as a synonym for competitive intelligence, because they both maintain decision making. The ethics of competitive intelligence has been the topic of much discussion over the years; the trouble is where to draw the line between competitive intelligence and industrial espionage. The Ethics of Competitive Intelligence can really be: clarification of what constitutes ethical and legal competitive intelligence activities, developing and implementing a competitive intelligence ethics professionals also to abide by all applicable laws: (Competitive Intelligence, 2012).
In general and in competitive intelligence in particular, what is legal can be ethically questionable. There are many gray areas. Consequently, and as shown from the cases presented, unethical CI practices are not worth the risk There are some ethical guidelines in Competitive Intelligence to do their job in a completely ethical manner they can consider several elements for guidance: the law, industry guidelines; personal moral codes and corporate ethics policies - if they exist – if not organizations must have their own codes of ethics. BI helped Arab Potash Company as an example application in Jordan.