This is a comprehensive and detailed investigation of a target company's performance, activities and plans in a particular market or region.  Common subject areas are corporate background and history, management and key decision-makers' profile, company strategy, finance, operations, marketing, sales, product or service features, image and reputation, supply and distribution, employees and staff, R&D, and partnerships and alliances.

We make profiles on not only competitors but also on potential acquisition (pre-M&A) candidates, business partners, suppliers, distributors, new entrants, substitutes and even key B2B customers.

Topics Include:
- General Company Information - Company Background - Management Structure & Profile   • Includes name & background information   • Various levels   • Rates of compensation for management - Company Strategy, Goals & Objectives   • Focus (past, present & future)   • Corporate culture   • Intent or vision   • Strategic thrusts   • Objectives   • Operating goals   • Market entry strategies (or new markets targeted)   • Expansion strategies   • Mergers and/or alliances   • Partnerships & joint ventures - Finance Performance   • Sales &/or Revenues   • Profitability   • Fixed & variable costs   • Debt   • Capital   • R&D investments   • Financial statement information for past five years - Operations   • Facility information   • Technology used in operations   • Quality or Service standards used   • Operation costs   • Production procedures - Marketing Plans, Programs & Execution   • Key markets served   • Segmentation used   • Market share   • Market share timeline   • Advertising and promotion - Sales Activities   • Sales force information   • Key sales channels   • Customer service information   • Selling and relationships	- Product and/or Service   • Product line width   • Features   • Functionality   • Service   • Price   • Comparisons - Image and Reputation   • Image of the company   • Image of products   • Reputation for rapid response time   • Strategic thrusts   • Reputation for best value - Supply and Distribution Structures   • Supply chain structure   • Distribution chain structure - Employees & Staff   • Number of employees   • Salary ranges   • Average hourly rate   • Union information   • Subcontracting practices   • Turn-over rate   • Training & staff development programs   • Organization chart   • Employee benefits - Research & Development (R&D) / Engineering   • Capability of R&D team   • Size of R&D department   • Description of major research programs   • Patent information - Other information

This study monitors a target company’s movements to deduce its capability and intent. This minimizes your risk from being blindsided by your competition, large and small.  This report is also valuable for your internal strategic exercises like scenario planning, market simulation, or business wargaming.

Competitor monitoring is typically preceded by an in-depth competitor profile study that lays the foundational knowledge upon which to build new intelligence.  Thus, tracking topics need not be as comprehensive as profiling subjects.

Possible Tracking Topics
- Competitor Product Performance - Product Development Activities & Plans - Product Introduction or Launch - Product Life Cycle - Pricing & Discount Practices - Marketing Activities & Message - Market Positioning & Penetration - Partnership Discussions	- Financing or Fund-Raising Initiatives - Technology Adoption or Evaluation - Purchases & Inventory Build-Up - Hiring Practices & Activities - PR Issues & Announcements - Publicity & Exposure - Customer Satisfaction