In this interview, the experienced competitive intelligence practitioner (Speaker B) outlines a simple time‑management framework for CI projects. He recommends allocating roughly 10% of a project’s total effort to understanding stakeholder needs through direct conversation rather than email, and then dividing the remaining time equally—about 30% each—among intelligence gathering, analysis, and communication/presentation. The speaker notes that while the 10‑30‑30‑30 split is a useful benchmark, teams can adjust it as needed. The discussion emphasizes the importance of a clear kickoff with stakeholders to set expectations and avoid wasted effort.
right, at the same time. So, so the question is, how do you go about managing your time? So the question is about time management. Do you have a strategy to organize one's time in your— for yourself or for your team? What do you recommend?
Well, for, for time management per activity, let's say, uh, whenever there is— let's say we take a key intelligence topic we define and we, we want to know how much time we will spend from day one to delivery. And I would say it's, it's first to understand the need properly. That's, that's 10% of your time. Let's say 10%, you sit with stakeholders. This is really important. We don't take email requests. It's more conversation kickoff to better understand what's really needed. So when it's done, don't spend more than 30% of your time gathering intelligence for for that topic, uh, 30% of your time. Well, it's, let's say, 10, 30, 30, 30. It's simple, and it can, it can, it can differ or change from one team to another, but at least you take 10%. Sorry, go ahead.
No, no, I understand what you're saying, though. The ratios— no, it's good because I think it's important, you know, someone with your level of experience and you're teaching people who actually, you know, are just beginning or they're trying setup or some are experienced, but on average, how much time you spend on each thing so we know, oh, I shouldn't spend, you know, 60% of my time doing this or no. Thank you for sharing because that's how people, well, what's the benchmark? Well, about this, about this. So like a 10-30-30, it's kind of simple and people, I mean, not simple because it needs to keep it up, but it gives people an idea of—
Oh yeah. And to add to it, there are two points. Why 30% for communication? Because before it was less, and honestly, personally, I was spending less with communication. It was between 10% and 20% of my time. So I was saying, okay, the intelligence is here, we analyze it, so it should be easy. But, uh, it's overlooked, and I did that mistake myself. So 30% of your time, you have to spend it, uh, in communication. It means preparing for that communication with people. When you have presentation to make, it's not just dropping what you found on a slide and that's it. Doesn't work this way. It has to be, how to say, organized in such a way that people who are not competitive intelligence professionals can understand it and communicate it well. When you're presenting to people, etc., you present it well. And after that, you get the feedback about that communication to make sure that the message reached the audience. Otherwise, what's the use? You present something and nobody gets anything from what we are presenting. So communication side is really important.
