Evaluate each of the following approaches that a business firm could use to gather information about competition, For each approach, mark your feeling about its approprateness using the following scale;

1. definitely not appropriate, 2. probably not appropriate 3. undecided, 4. probably appropriate, and 5. definitely appropriate

_____ Careful study of trade journals

_____Wiretappong the telephones of competitors

_____Posting as a potential customer to competitors

_____getting loyal customers to put out a phone "request for proposal" soliciting competitor's bids.

_____Buying competitors' products and taking them apart

_____Hiring management consultants who have worked for competitors

____Rewarding competitors' employees for useful "tips"

____Questioning competitors' customers and/or suppliers

____Buying and analyzing competitor' garbage

____Advertising and interviewing for nonexistent jobs

____taking public tours of competitors' facilities

____Releasing false information about the company in order to confuse competitors

____Qeustioning competitors/ technical people at trade shows and conferences

____Hiring key people away from competitors

____Analyzing competitors' labor union contacts

___Having employees date persons who work for competitors

___Studying aerial photographs of competitors' facilities.

After making each of th preceding approaches, indicate on the discussion board for 5, 4, 2, or 1, why you thought these acts were either appropriate or inappropriate.