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Figure 1From “Competitive intelligence begins with incomplete information”

The sparse-signal decision sheet

Do not let a sparse signal carry a conclusion it cannot support. Record competing explanations, the test, and the smallest reversible resource commitment.

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Figure 1The sparse-signal decision sheet

A six-column worksheet for incomplete competitive intelligence: observed public signal, working inference, competing explanation, disconfirming test, reversible resource commitment, and review owner with date.Observed signalWhat was seen,when, and fromwhich publicsource?Working inferenceWhat might thesignal mean? Keepthis separate fromthe observation.CompetingexplanationWhat else couldproduce the samesignal?Disconfirming testWhat new publicevidence orobservation wouldweaken theinference?ReversiblecommitmentMonitor, learn,protect or actreversibly.Review owner anddateWho can revisethe inferenceand when?A sparse signal earns a resource response only when the inference, competing explanation, test, and reversal condition arevisible. A blank test means the signal is not yet decision-ready.

Source: Author's decision worksheet grounded in Cavallo et al. (2021), Akerlof (1970), Goodman (1972), Phelps, Chan, and Kapsalis (2001), and Stein, Smith, and Lancioni (2013). The sheet is a bounded-inference framework, not a validated intelligence system.

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APA 7

Isoglu, S. (2026). The sparse-signal decision sheet [Figure]. isoglu.com. https://isoglu.com/insights/exhibits/isoglu-2026-competitive-intelligence-begins-with-incomplete-information-fig01/

BibTeX
@misc{isoglu-2026-competitive-intelligence-begins-with-incomplete-information-fig01,
  author = {Isoglu, Sinan},
  title = {{The sparse-signal decision sheet}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Figure 1, isoglu.com},
  url = {https://isoglu.com/insights/exhibits/isoglu-2026-competitive-intelligence-begins-with-incomplete-information-fig01/},
  note = {From the essay {Competitive intelligence begins with incomplete information}}
}
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  <a href="https://isoglu.com/insights/exhibits/isoglu-2026-competitive-intelligence-begins-with-incomplete-information-fig01/">
    <img src="https://isoglu.com/social/isoglu-2026-competitive-intelligence-begins-with-incomplete-information-fig01.png" alt="Figure 1: The sparse-signal decision sheet" width="3200" height="2400">
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  <figcaption>Figure 1: The sparse-signal decision sheet. Source: Author&#39;s decision worksheet grounded in Cavallo et al. (2021), Akerlof (1970), Goodman (1972), Phelps, Chan, and Kapsalis (2001), and Stein, Smith, and Lancioni (2013). The sheet is a bounded-inference framework, not a validated intelligence system. <a href="https://isoglu.com/insights/exhibits/isoglu-2026-competitive-intelligence-begins-with-incomplete-information-fig01/">View exhibit</a>.</figcaption>
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