Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sun Tzu advises his readers to:
Be subtle! Be subtle! And use your spies for every kind of business.
Sun Tzu's final words in this masterwork underscore the value of intelli-
gence acquired through the use of spies:
Hence it is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general who will use the high-
est intelligence of the army for purposes of spying and thereby they achieve great
results. Spies are a most important element in water, because on them depends
an army's ability to move.
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These words have not been lost on corporate managers who have recog-
nized their applicability to the business battlefield.
Virtually every government in the world has an intelligence-gathering
apparatus. Knowledge of the intentions and capabilities of your enemies
or competitors provides an advantage that can be obtained through no
other means. Information must be gathered, analyzed, and used in a
strategic manner. Intelligence may be obtained through technological
methods, such as satellite monitoring and the intercepts of radio and tele-
phone communications. It may be the result of deductive reasoning after
analysis of the actions of the subject in question. Or intelligence can be
obtained from the oldest and most basic method: the use of spies. Spies
can make visual observations, overhear conversations, or gain the confi-
dence of specifically targeted individuals having information of value to
the nation supporting the intelligence operation. A spy may be a trusted
member of a targeted government, agency, group, or corporation and may
be passing valuable information helpful to the opposing side. This type
of spy, or “mole,” is most dangerous as, by necessity, he or she is privy to
highly classified and compartmentalized information. The information
that moles can provide is the most valuable and provides the greatest
advantage to the group gathering the information.
Governments seeking security or the advancement of their own
national interests are not the only ones to recognize the value of spying.
Corporate espionage or economic spying has long been a vital tool for
industries competing for dominance in a competitive world market. Often
the interests of a government and a particular industry coincide. The
reasons are obvious; if a country can dominate a market, the strategic sit-
uation of that country will also be enhanced. A strong market position and
