ABSTRACT
This chapter examines planning research and creating a knowledge base. It concerns: examples of illicit intelligence gathering; the United States Industrial Espionage Act 1996 as a legislative response to this kind of activity; the efforts of competitive intelligence (CI) professionals to raise ethical standards within the sector through a Code of Ethics; interpreting the practical effects of the Code for those engaged in CI. Subtle and insidious is the planting of moles within a rival company. The most valuable mole will become a permanent employee, though this is obviously difficult to arrange. The sheer scale and pervasiveness of industrial espionage prompted the US legislature and government to take special measures to combat it. The society of competitive intelligence professionals (SCIP) code demands higher standards of conduct than required by the law. Insistence on acceptance of the SCIP code should also form part of any contract signed with external consultants and all reasonable steps taken to monitor compliance with its obligations.
