Tamika Smith is a marketing research analyst for Walgreens based in Chicago, Illinois, and part of her job is to gather and analyze information about the product and pricing strategies of competing companies like CVS and Target as well as monitor trends regarding which products might be popular in different areas of the United States or particular neighborhoods within a state. What type of activity is Tamika engaged in for her job as a research analyst?
a. environmental scanning
b. information processing
c. competitive intelligence
d. media strategy
Answer: a. environmental scanning