When evaluating the importance of various aspects of competitors' operations, the least important factor among the options provided is typically:
a. Advertising agencies used
While advertising strategies and effectiveness do play a role in a company's overall performance, the specific advertising agencies they utilize may not be as critical to assess compared to elements like new product plans, strategies, market share, and prices, which directly impact competitive positioning and market behavior.
Understanding competitors' product plans, broader strategy, market share, and pricing is often more crucial for strategic decision-making and competitive analysis.