There's an old saying in "the Community" that "intelligence is the world's second-oldest profession," and the similarities and analogies to the world's oldest profession don't end there. Both are ubiquitous, serve a clientele which includes a broad spectrum of society, and seek to satisfy needs which are, if not universal, at least very very wide-spread.

Hence it should come as no surprise that Wal-Mart (and indeed virtually all medium to large size businesses) employ personnel whose duties can rightly be characterized as intelligence collection, analysis or dissemination(spying), and that they might seek talented and experienced personnel with backgrounds in government agencies engaged in espionage to fill those billets. And they have for a very long time.

Thos

Sent by Thos | 3:38 PM ET | 01-16-2008

Don't put anything in an email that you wouldnt' want to see on a bulletin board!

Sent by Grace | 3:56 PM ET | 01-16-2008

The question that comes to my mind is does employee-monitoring of the caliber discussed this afternoon result in designing and selling a "better mousetrap" for the company, or is it largely a byproduct of some executive(s) arrogance and insecurity?

Sent by Brett | 4:21 PM ET | 01-16-2008

Better than that. Go to the nearest bar and listen to the griping/complaining. You'll find out what a conmpany is doing, not doing, pursuing product(s) or not. Loose Lip, Sink (corporate) Ships!

Sent by Harold | 10:54 AM ET | 01-17-2008