The Value of Human Intelligence in Private Equity

February 22, 2016

“Knowledge of the spirit world is to be obtained by divination; information in natural science may be sought by inductive reasoning; the laws of the universe can be verified by mathematical calculation: but the dispositions of an enemy are ascertainable through spies and spies alone.” —The Art of War – Sun Tzu – 500 BC

Any casual observer of the progress the West has made (or not made) in the global war on terror understands the importance of actionable human intelligence. General Sun Tzu understood its value 2,500 years ago and expressed its importance in his classic tome, The Art of War.

Some may be uncomfortable drawing parallels between war and business but the parallels are valid. While it’s true that no lives hang in the balance in the conduct of business, livelihoods certainly do hang in the balance.

Shrewd business people always seek an advantage, an edge that will aid in advancing them toward their goals. Frequently this edge, this advantage, comes in the form of human intelligence, specifically, reliable information upon which a course of action can be based.  This is no less true for those working in private equity and venture capital than it is in any other business enterprise.

Anyone at the helm of a private equity or venture capital firm understands the value of team and the importance of attracting and retaining top talent.

Similarly, an individual aspiring to join the team needs to ensure that he is acting in his own best interests. These “best interests” are as varied as the individual job seeker but, one common theme is compensation.

logoThe 2016 Private Equity and VC Compensation Report, sponsored by Job Search Digest, is composed of valuable intelligence on a range subject matter that is of critical importance to job seekers and prospective employers alike. This report is, by definition, human intelligence, gleaned from surveying hundreds of participating respondents that work for and manage the top private equity and venture capital firms in North America and beyond.

The report is replete with charts, graphs, and tables, each coupled with insightful analysis. While compensation is the primary focus of the report, it also provides valuable information on a variety of related topics such as working group size, firm size, carried interest, and compensation relative to firm size. The report also covers organizational structure, job satisfaction, investment strategies and quality of training and much, much more.

Just as human intelligence can define the difference between victory and defeat in battle; it can also reflect the difference between success and failure in business.

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