Theoretical and Conceptual Approaches to Defining the Concept of Economic Intelligence in the Ukrainian Scientific Practice

This contribution is dedicated to the study of theoretical and conceptual aspects of economic intelligence. The goal of the research is to theoretically define the notion of economic intelligence and categorize the forms of its implementation with regard to the wide range of tools used to obtain, process and analyze information. Since economic intelligence is a separate analytical phenomenon, the author focuses on a series of relevant research tasks that disclose the theoretical essence of such notions as “economic intelligence”, “competitive intelligence” and “industrial espionage” as well as elaborate on their distinctive features in the context of data management process. Moreover, the author singles out the principles of information security within the context of intelligence activities and scientifically substantiates the forms of economic intelligence implementation with respect to the use of data acquisition methods. In the course of the research on economic intelligence, the author emphasizes the existence of various methods to acquire information necessary for the effective functioning of a state, organization or enterprise, which facilitates the successful solving of strategic and operational issues in the policy-making process. Furthermore, the economic intelligence data helps to identify new market opportunities as well as potential risks, and, subsequently, modify economic activities and plans on the development of an enterprise environment. Having studied theoretical aspects and forms of economic intelligence, the author reaches conclusions regarding the notion of economic intelligence as well as its forms – competitive intelligence and industrial espionage. It is determined that economic intelligence represents a system of covert search, gathering, compilation, analysis and goal-oriented use of strategic intelligence. The author notes that economic intelligence can be studied within the contexts of its separate forms, namely the competitive intelligence (as a lawful method to acquire data) and industrial espionage (as an unlawful method of acquiring data). The comparative analysis reveals that the notions of economic and business intelligence can be considered synonyms, although business intelligence in less associated with the illegal gathering of information. The author states that business intelligence is not synonymous with industrial espionage. Even being forms of economic intelligence, the notions of competitive intelligence and industrial espionage cannot be interpreted as one phenomenon, for they differ in the characteristic methods of data acquisition.