SCIP Organizational Update
November 16, 2009
Dear SCIP Members:
I am continuing my updates to you on the evolution of SCIP. In my last letter, I wrote of change, and change will be a constant theme over the next few years we move the organization forward. Implementing change is difficult and its effects are often hard on everyone they touch — the organization as a whole, members, staff, and your elected SCIP Board of Directors who are leading this change.
The SCIP Board meets monthly to consider the ongoing steps necessary for the organization to move forward. The Directors make decisions which have a financial, cultural, and even physiological impact since they often create an operational mode which by necessity differs from those in place at various times over the past 24 years of SCIP’s operation. All involved are dedicated to making carefully considered decisions which will improve the trajectory of the association and the services it provides you, the membership.
Three movements forward
In the last 30 days, the Board made three important decisions for your society. The first approved a slate of three eminently qualified candidates for election to the two open seats of the 2010 Board of Directors. These candidates are:
- Michael Bernachi of Dunkin Brands Inc.
- Peter Shaw of Midwest Employers Casualty Company
- Paul Kissinger of Thunderbird University.
The election is now open and will run through November 30. Please take the time to review the candidates’ qualifications posted on the website, and to vote for the individuals of your choice.
The Board’s second action amends the SCIP bylaws in accordance with the membership vote which merged SCIP with the Frost & Sullivan Institute. David Frigstad and Wyman Bravard were added to the Board of Directors and will represent the Institute. Combined with the two newly elected Board members, all of these individuals bring a broad base of business experience to the organization and will help SCIP meet the requirements of its ever-changing environment.
The Board’s third action upholds its commitment to deliver added value to your membership without increasing its cost. In 2010, all current and future members will continue to receive the same benefits you have always received from your SCIP membership, plus a minimum of three free educational e-broadcast per year.
Additionally, in response to your requests to help budget for SCIP membership and activities on an annual basis, you will be able to purchase custom packages of SCIP membership, events, and webinars on a discounted basis. These new packages will be on the website on November 30, 2009.
Chapters
To serve the changing requirements of our local domestic chapters, the Board created a Chapter Task Force in the spring of 2009. This task force is led by Kelsey Hare (Board member), and includes Fred Wergeles and Tim Barak (chapter chairs), and Robyn Reals and myself (SCIP staff). The task force members are focusing on finding innovative ways to increase chapter meeting flexibility and venue choice, minimizing the cost to members, partnering with related organizations, and providing enhanced networking opportunities.
SCIP 2010 conference
We are rapidly preparing the budget and program schedule for SCIP10. As usual, the opportunity to speak to the largest gathering of CI professionals in the world created a great deal of interest. We expect to have the program slate fully developed and displayed on the website by the end of November.
We have listened to past conference attendees requests, gathered through evaluations and surveys, for more interactive time with your peers. As a result, the SCIP 2010 conference will expand the direct dialogue between CI professionals by designating 22 of its approximately 50 sessions “PowerPoint-free” zones. In a networking environment, CI experts will share their knowledge directly with you and respond to your interests. No longer will you simply be the passive recipient of hearing the speaker repeat what is on pre-packaged slides, but you will actively participate in creating your learning environment.
We have begun the formal marketing of the conference and quite a few members are taking advantage of signing up for SCIP 10 with 2009 budget dollars. If we can help you with a package for your team’s attendance at the event, please feel free to contact the SCIP office and let us find how to serve your needs. The early registration price is $1250 for members, with the full price at $1500. Full and half day workshops are at the same price as last year, $955 and $588 respectively for members.
International 2009
The first SCIP Latin American Competitive Intelligence Summit was held in San Paulo, Brazil on 22-24 October, 2009. Over 100 CI professionals gathered to participate in workshops and general sessions. As you would expect, keynote speaker Ben Gilad provided very thought-provoking and insightful comments and ideas. On behalf of SCIP, board members Paulo Franklin de Abreu (Brazil) and Adrian Alvarez (Argentina) led the conference and created a strong foundation for future conferences. In addition, SCIP now has a very strong foundation for developing a chapter in Brazil.
The 14th European Competitive Intelligence Summit took place in Amsterdam on 4-6 November 2009. Ably chaired by Joseph Rodenberg, the summit was supported by an outstanding program committee. The excellent program attracted 200 delegates and featured an exhibit hall populated by 16 organizations which deliver a broad array of products and services to the CI community.
Professor Stephane Garelli delivered a scintillating opening keynote address. His global review was sobering when one considered the amount of stimulus money that has flowed from the coffers of the G 20, primarily funded via budget deficits to avert a financial meltdown. To balance this observation, Garelli’s global review also included the positives that are now entering the financial global system and he provided a balanced but upbeat forecast for the future. Over the course of the three days, the summit delegates had the opportunity to learn from CI experts who presented over 27 sessions and 4 workshops. Overall, the summit participants exhibited an extremely enthusiastic and positive approach.
Looking forward
As noted in earlier communications, your Society plans to host four summits in 2010 (North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia) supplemented by seminars, workshops, and chapter and affiliate offerings. In addition SCIP will continue to provide CI education and commentary via electronic newsletters, websites, e-broadcasts, webinars, the Linked In community (which has grown to over 2900 members), and publications most notably an expanded Competitive Intelligence Magazine, now published on a quarterly basis.
Does this mean that our financial challenges of 2009 are fully resolved? Not quite. To continue our progress towards operating on a solid operational base, SCIP requires the overall economic global recovery to continue, and corporations to support their employees continued professional development through a moderate level of expenditure for education and travel. However, the actions SCIP is taking in 2009 ensures that your professional Society will survive and prosper in the coming years.
As you can see from the programs discussed earlier, we are taking the steps to expand our reach into the global competitive intelligence community and provide you with focused, relevant opportunities to develop your competitive knowledge.
As always, we welcome your commentary and feedback, which is necessary for a robust organization.
Regards:
Ken Garrison
CEO SCIP