The research questions concern how companies integrate the BI activities in the companies and how the actives are carried out.
Literature related to the two questions is reviewed and a frame of reference is developed.
Empirical data is obtained from four companies in different industries by telephone interviews, and shows that the integration of BI activities generally is formal and decentralised. The companies determine the need of BI at meetings and data is collected from different sources. The analysis of data differs, but some models used are SWOT, KSF and Scenario analysis. The information is generally disseminated through e-mail and personal communication. The companies use BI to provide early warnings and as basis for decision-making.