COMPETITIVE INTELLIGENCE MATURITY DEGREE:

Abstract

Competitive Intelligence is a quite regular topic in organizations that are willing to have a greater position on the market in general, as well as to be ahead of future trends and scenarios, and also to obtain a better assertiveness in processes that require making a decision. Organizations such as startups, known as highly scalable companies which have a forward-looking model of business with a low initial cost, are also constantly searching for a sustainable growth in the long run. The research aims towards identifying how mature is the level of Competitive Intelligence in Startups in the community of San Pedro Valley, headquartered in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. Applying a Quantitative Method, a descriptive investigation was performed seeing a survey sent online directly to the managers. The bibliographic research allowed to maintain the intelligence cycle’s choice proposed by Mafra, Carvalho and Jordão (2016) in the analysis of each stage. According to the definitions of maturity by Rodrigues and Riccardi (2007) and Zuquetto and Beltrame (2012), a new proposal was developed to measure in a quantitative way the level of excellence of the organizations. From level one (informal) through level four (advanced), it was identified that the maturity of competitive intelligence in the related startups is situated between the level two (basic) and level three (intermediary). These results are expected and common if the context and the structure of these companies (which act with a sense of urgency, lean structure and flexibility) are taken into account.