Jens Thieme is the Global Head of Market & Competitive Intelligence with Ciba Specialty Chemicals in Basel, Switzerland. His blend of experience in leading roles in Advertising & Marketing Communications, Market Development, E-Business and Electronic Communications over the 18 years with this company both in Europe and the U.S. have lead the company into excellence in intelligence strategy, systems, processes and infrastructure. As the founder of MarkIntell.com and an active member of SCIP and the Swiss Competitive Intelligence Association, Jens maintains a strong international collaboration with competitive intelligence professionals from a wide range of industries around the globe.

Centralization of Market & Competitive Intelligence; Challenges, Obstacles, Path to Success

In an effort to answer the call for increased global competitiveness many corporations consider improved integration of competitive intelligence into their decision processes. However, since information, knowledge, data and intelligence have always been the base for any decision by senior managers and executives many organizations struggle to recognize the need for radical change.
 
This session reflects on the experience and progress made at a multinational company to fight fragmentation, uncontrolled spending and inefficient use of information and intelligence. It focuses on the obstacles that were overcome, the buy-in that was created, support granted and some tactics applied that helped to align the organization behind this new idea to harmonize market and competitive intelligence.

Presentation Goals

• Gain insight into a successful first year of a global CI function implementation
• Learn what elements of support and activities proved effective to be rewarded all necessary mandates
• Take away ideas and suggestions to overcome common obstacles in today's fast paced business environments