Question

Competitive rivalry, whether high or low, is a constant in almost every industry. The more we know about the competition the better we can ward off a threat or take advantage of an opportunity. What are the ethics of gathering competitive intelligence? Where do you draw the line in securing information on the competition?

Answer 1

The ethics of competitive intelligence is the proper legal procedures should be followed while gathering information. The information provider should be informed well in advance about the consequences of proving information. While it is fine at times to replicate the information gathering model of the competitor, the firms should keep in mind that they themselves are solely responsible for the action they take and cannot shift the responsibility of their default in activities on their competitor. A line should be drawn when someone's privacy rights are under question. An individual's privacy rights should not be infringed while gathering information that could lead to potential profits for the firm.