Intelligence collation

The Humdrum that will make Intelligence work for your Business

It is a fact that most intelligence work is not that glamorous, and intelligence analysts will only occasionally get to deliver dynamic assessments to the management board, pull people out of far-flung places in the nick of time or forestall the next crisis. This may come as something of a shock to those intending to [...]

Thoughts on Analysis: Expression of Probability in Intelligence Work

Almost every intelligence organisation seems to employ a different method to express probability as part of their intelligence processes. Probability being the level of confidence the analyst has in relation to each piece of intelligence, resultant hypotheses or the overall assessment. Not surprisingly, any ambiguity in the expression of probability has an impact on the [...]

Thoughts on Analysis: Classification, Accuracy, Reliability and Distribution

Let us clarify the relationship between classification, accuracy of information, reliability of source and the distribution of intelligence. There is often confusion over these four aspects of our work as many people are tempted to link them together. For example, I often hear the view that top secret information is, due to its high classification, [...]

Thoughts on Analysis: The Role of the Analyst in the Intelligence Cycle

The intelligence cycle is a great piece of doctrine and one which has kept us, in the intelligence business, on the straight and narrow for so long. It has served us well and I'm sure will continue to do so into the future. There are elements of it though that need examination past the obvious. [...]

Thoughts on Analysis: The Humble Collator

Oft maligned and ignored, the humble collator, day after day, feeds our intelligence databases In some organisations the collator posts are treated as a rite of passage for your aspiring analyst - learning the ropes from the shop floor upwards. Other places, they are seen as dead-end and never-ending jobs for those who will never [...]