Studying your opponents:
___Gives you up-to-date knowledge of the opponent's positions on the issue
___Tells you why the opponent is taking those positions
___Tells you what strategies and tactics the opponent has used in the past
Knowledge about opponents is useful to:
___Identify potential problems earlier on, and sort them out before they become bigger problems
___Help you find ways to negotiate
___Help you develop successful strategies and tactics
With regard to the timing of research:
___Studying the opponent should be an ongoing process
___Your opponents’ position may change over time; your response may need to change as well
Studying can be either informal or formal. Informal methods may include:
___Keeping your eyes and ears open
___Looking at your opponent's previous activities and campaigns
___Reading their in-house publications and annual reports
___Talking to organizations and individuals who have dealt with your opponents in the past
Studying individuals may involve:
___Finding out where they live and work
___Finding out how and where they manage financial transactions
___Identifying their advisors
Studying agencies, companies or organizations may involve:
___Finding out their past records and tactics
___Finding out about their resources, strengths, and weaknesses
___Identifying their principle decision makers
___Finding out how much power they have, and why they are opposing you
A formal, tactical investigation may be necessary:
___If the opponent is powerful
___If the opponent may be willing to act forcefully
A formal investigation may involve the following steps:
___Develop an investigation plan
___Gather the information
___Think like your opponent
___Use the information
Information can be gathered:
___Through informants with an interest in the issue
___Through "freedom of information" laws
___Through published sources of information
Among published sources of information are:
___Business and trade publications
___Clipping files
___Reference works
___Government files on businesses
___Voting records
___Court records
Gathering information about an opponent may involve some ethically questionable tactics. Groups should balance the benefits of these tactics against:
___Their own sense of what is ethically permissible
___The risk of getting caught
___The risk that the opponent would also adopt hardball tactics
Thinking like the opponent will help a group:
___Predict what that opponent will do next
___Predict how the opponent would react to specific tactics
Studying their opponent can help advocacy groups:
___Plan actions that will be most effective
___Publicize the opponent's weaknesses
___Perhaps act as whistle-blower, and seek legal redress