# Competitive intelligence — evidence record

Use one record for one decision. Keep an observation distinct from the inference drawn from it.

## 1. Decision and owner

- Decision to make:
- Customer, market, or situation:
- Decision owner and review date:
- Evidence that could change the choice:

## 2. Observation and source

- What was directly observed or reported:
- Original URL, document, or interview reference:
- Exact wording and qualifications:

## 3. Source perspective

- Who produced it and what they can know:
- Purpose or relevant incentives:
- Direct observation, participant account, or repeated claim:

## 4. Date and scope

- Date produced and date checked:
- Plan, version, period, market, and customer type:
- Conditions under which it applies:

## 5. Supported conclusion and inference

- Narrow conclusion supported by the material:
- Further inference to test:
- Alternative explanation:
- Independent material that could check it:

## 6. Decision-relevant unknowns

- Missing answer:
- How a different answer could change the choice:

## 7. Next check and review trigger

- Next check, owner, and due date:
- Proposed action and unresolved assumptions:
- New information or condition that would trigger review:

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An editorial research aid from The Art of War reading project. The fields are a modern application, not a translation of Sun Tzu's seven comparisons.

Original passages: https://artofwar.page/read/1#c01-u002 and https://artofwar.page/read/13#c13-u006