Abstract:

Within the actual rapidly evolving environment, vocational training colleges must be effectively prepared to manage strategic and more operational decisions in order to remain viable and respond to the high demanding needs of industry, society and educational institutions. Furthermore, vocational training colleges are catalysts for the enhancement of local industry capabilities, and the creation of direct and indirect employment opportunities (Klofsten and Jones- Evans, 2000).

Therefore, decision making in those organisations becomes of paramount importance. It is important for those organisations to make good short-term and long-term decisions based on critical decision making factors {Papamichail, 2007 #26}. Some of these factors refer to the decision processes, the information, the technology making available that information and the people involved. Thus, decision making has to integrate both, the decision processes (Mintzberg et al., 1995) and the access to adequate amount of information (Small Business Report, 1987; Hickson et al., 1995). However, as Trull (1966) points out “the correct amount of data is, or should be, contingent upon the probable total decision reward”.
Competitive intelligence (CI) is recognized as an effective way to sharpen competitive edge due to its ability to analyze and assess external environmental changes and keep a close watch on different agents´ movements; but its role should be fully integrated with the decision making process; a process that has been modeled with techniques such as the GRAI grid, among others.

The present paper analyzes the decision-making information needs of a group of vocational training colleges, and the impact of those in the efficient definition of a CI system. Specifically, the approach shown in the paper addresses the importance of time aspects of decision making and functional nature of decisional activities as the key factors for the identification of information needs, and the establishment of an efficient CI system.

Keywords:

Vocational training, competitive intelligence, decision making, GRAI model.