Empowering humanitarian efforts : a dynamic approach to competitive intelligence (CI)

Abstract

Background: The article examines the adoption of competitive intelligence (CI) in Ghana’s humanitarian sector, identifying barriers such as resource limitations and organizational challenges, while highlighting CI’s potential to enhance decision-making, partnerships, and efficiency. Methods: The study adopted a mixed-method research approach. Survey questionnaires and interviews were conducted with 34 humanitarian organisations in Ghana as part of the study. Results: The study established that, few humanitarian organisations in Ghana are practising CI. Many organisations have no established and specific procedures and staff for CI. The main challenges organisations experience when implementing CI include limited resources, especially in funding, lack of skilled workforce, and limited technological support. Other challenges include the organisational culture, lack of support from organisational leadership, and competing priorities. However, the study re-vealed the benefits and opportunities of CI for Ghana’s humanitarian sector, which include better decision-making and resource utilisation, cooperation and partnerships, flexibility and prepared-ness, and organisational efficiency and outcomes. Conclusion: The study concluded that the human-itarian organisations in Ghana will need to address the challenges mentioned above and build on those opportunities to harness the potential of CI effectively. Some suggestions include the sensitisation of CI, resource mobilisation, capacity development, culture change, and CI institutionalisation.