Surprise is rarely a good thing in business. Unexpected developments range in their effects from inconvenient to disastrous. To avoid being blindsided, companies must develop a Competitive Early Warning system, or CEW, which combines strategic planning, competitive intelligence, and management action. Such systems let organizations manage risk more effectively and prevent ""industry dissonance"" -- when market realities outpace corporate strategies. reveals how to: * Change strategy to meet new realities * Learn from the mistakes of others via the book's eye-opening stories * Avoid common tactics like benchmarking and using consultants, which may do more harm than good * Tell executives what they need to know -- not what they want to hear Each chapter ends with a Manager's Checklist of key points, and the book includes numerous charts, tables, and tools. With strong opinions and wry humor, world-recognized expert Gilad reveals how to anticipate and react to early signs of trouble.