Information Technology: A tool in the service of Strategic Intelligence

André Luis Garcia Barreto *

There are various concepts of Information Technology (IT), among the

most comprehensive and complete highlight which reflects the more managerial
aspects, including in the IT information systems, the use of hardware and
software, telecommunications, automation, multimedia, used organizations to
provide data, information and knowledge. (Luftman, 1993 and Weil, 1992).

In the context of the Strategic Intelligence, access to information means

the operation by which the potential User may access it when it is appropriate
(LESCA, 2003).

A source or accessible information that is available to the User at the

time desired. That is, in the acquisition of information is to get good information
(relevant and useful) and also be able to dispose of it at the right time. That is
one thing brings forth the question that you should not improvise in the
production of information, which requires an organized process of collecting,
recording, selection and exploitation, and dissemination of information to users
in the process. On the other hand, also addresses the question of "for whom" a
particular piece of information is important or useful? Certainly the perception of
value on the information given will vary depending on the individual who will be
considering.

The activities of attention and monitoring to identify information relevant

and useful to decision-making can be supported by the deployment of devices
that allow leverage intelligence to understand the environment, assisting in the
conduct of organizational strategies and optimal use of available resources. All
these activities have in common the need for updated information available and
so simple to be used in decision making. The availability and access to
information, which require at least the search, selection and storage, are
activities that must be managed the organization.

Among the forms of definition of information management, has been the

approach of strategic planning (mission, objectives, critical factors, etc; Or the
use of information to answer questions like: where are we? Where do we go?
How will we?). Another approach which improves the structure of information
management in support of decision making is the decision-making process
(intelligence, design, choice, revision), or problem identification, selection and
choice of alternatives, implementation, monitoring the reassessment.

Strategic Intelligence has been adding to these models in order to

anticipate problems and identify opportunities, from a special attention to
special information arising from internal environments (strengths and
weaknesses), external (threats and opportunities) and social (the larger
environment which incorporates the organization). The Strategic Intelligence
from the premise that in recognizing the environment in which the company
operates, it has been a considerable increase in the strategy of the organization
because it provides a fitness and preparation, in time to face the turbulent
environment and the uncertain that are submitted.

When a company implements a process of Strategic Intelligence, she'd

be able to identify and select information relating to changes in business
environment in order to identify opportunities and threats in order to innovate in
value and adapt to their environment.

There are several challenges associated with deployment of an

intelligence unit in the organization. Among them we mention: the direction to
raise recognition of the importance of a project Intelligence, defining a project
team engaged and diverse skills, training people for identification, selection and
analysis of information, define the environment a priority for action, identify the
type of information relevant to the company, the proper way to select them and
interpret them, defining technologies support the process.

Accordingly, the IT within the institution is essential for proper lifting

practices and information systems that will assist the manager of strategic
intelligence in decision making.

Within this context, stand out among those computerized systems that
provide:

• the electronic document management (control and workflow) treated on

the corporate network;

• control internet access by separating the workstations with access and

without access to sensitive information of the institution;
 • management of human sources (employees, partners), and

• management and risk categorization of the activities monitored by the

intelligence that were highlighted in the strategic planning of the
organization.

Thus, it is explicit the importance of developing solutions and act in a simple,

effective and focused, working for a better informed individual, collective and
organizational decision making, proposing solutions that enable the activity of
strategic intelligence and above calling attention to the need to develop training
programs that enable managers, analysts, policy makers, the full realization of
these concepts, methods and techniques.

To this end, it is necessary to find ways to meet and optimize the use of
information systems that integrate management concepts, methods, models,
statistical techniques, text analysis, Web technology, all of this, so that the
energy of the main activity is focus on the effective exploitation, analysis and
interpretation of data for better decision of the manager of strategic intelligence.

* Member of the Intelligence Committee and Executive Secretary of the Institute

Sagres.