Intelligence analysis

Intelligence analysis is the application of individual and collective cognitive methods to weigh data and test hypotheses within a secret socio-cultural context.^[1] The descriptions are drawn from what may only be available in the form of deliberately deceptive information; the analyst must correlate the similarities among deceptions and extract a common truth. Although its practice is found in its purest form inside national intelligence agencies, its methods are also applicable in fields such as business intelligence or competitive intelligence.

This article is about the process of analysis. For assessment, see Intelligence assessment. For management, see Intelligence analysis management. For the cycle, see Intelligence cycle management.

Opportunities and dangers for interests of the analyst's country, especially unexpected developments that may require a reaction.

Motives, objectives, strengths, and vulnerabilities of adversaries, allies, and other actors.

Direct and indirect sources of friendly parties' leverage on foreign players and issues.

Tactical alternatives for advancing stated national policy goals.

Timeliness. Timeliness includes not only the amount of time required to deliver the product, but also the usefulness of the product to the customer at a given moment.

Scope. Scope involves the level of detail or comprehensiveness of the material contained in the product.

Periodicity. Periodicity describes the schedule of product initiation and generation.

– trains new analysts in intelligence analysis

Center for Intelligence and Security Studies

Intelligence analysis organizations

Clark, Robert M. (2019). Intelligence Analysis: A Target-Centric Approach (6th ed.). Los Angeles: CQ Press.

Heuer, Richards J. (1999)

Psychology of Intelligence Analysis

Jones, Milo and Silberzahn, Philippe. Constructing Cassandra, Reframing Intelligence Failure at the CIA, 1947–2001 Stanford University Press (2013)

Kent, Sherman. Strategic Intelligence for American World Policy (1965)

Kent, Sherman and Steury, Donald P. (ed.). (2008)

Sherman Kent and the Board of National Estimates: Collected Essays

MacEachin, Douglas J. The Tradecraft of Analysis: Challenge and Change in the CIA (1994)

McDowell, Don. Strategic Intelligence: A Handbook for Practitioners, Managers and Users – Revised Edition, Scarecrow Press Inc. (2009)

Rolington, Alfred. Strategic Intelligence for the 21st Century: The Mosaic Method, Oxford University Press (2013).

broken (2024-03-20)

A Tradecraft Primer: Structured Analytic Techniques for Improving Intelligence Analysis, Prepared by the US Government, March 2009

is the most widely used tool for analysing intelligence data.