Intelligence Analysis: A Target-Centric Approach

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Summary: comprehensive overview of the analyst's job
Review: I bought this book looking for a thorough explanation of the intelligence analyst's job as I am currently an applicant for an intelligence analyst position with a US Govt agency. This book provides a comprehensive and in-depth discussion of the methods used by analysts and discusses the logical interplay between analysts and information collectors, and analysts and policy-makers. The book is clearly organized and lucidly written. Almost every aspect of the analyst's job is discussed in sufficient detail that the reader should feel completely knowledgeable of how the analyst makes estimations and predictions, and the inherent difficulty in doing so. As a career design engineer I was surprised to realize how many engineering topics were discussed - (Kalman Filtering, feedback analysis, etc.). The author makes a liberal use of relevant examples to clarify his points. The sub-title of this book suggests that the central thesis is to present and propose a new method of analysis, but I think it would be more accurate to sub-title it (Intelligence Analysis: "The" Target-Centric Approach) as opposed to "A" Target-Centric Approach. The target-centric approach is an old idea used in many disciplines, and the book still serves to thoroughly discuss the analyst's job whether or not a target-centric approach is used. However, from other sources I have investigated, the intelligence community is embracing the Target-Centric approach already as indicated by the multi-agency Joint Terrorism Task Force recently created. Therefore I think this book really discusses the current state of analysis.
For anyone trying to decide on a career in intelligence analysis this is the first book you need.
The only topic that I feel Mr. Clark did not discuss is provided in another excellent book entitled "The Psychology of Intelligence Analysis" by Richard Huerer. The book is available for free online at the CIA's website. The book discusses, among other applicable things, the reasons for and the prevention of biases in making analyses. It should be the second book you read on the road to understanding how the analyst does his job.

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Summary: Intelligence Analysis
Review: I cannot recommend this book because apparently it was written in an intellectual vacuum. The author, Robert M. Clark, implies that he has developed a new method of intelligence analysis which he calls the 'target centric approach.' This implication is at best misleading. The author provides an enormous amount of detailed information on how to apply the target centric concept to various types of intelligence problems. In the course of doing this, Clark does develop some original and useful ideas especially on predictive intelligence. Unfortunately, much of the book is a running demonstration of Clark's seeming willingness to ignore what has been going on in the intelligence analyst community for the last few years.

For as long as I can remember, some intelligence analysts, though admittedly not all, have used variations of the target centric approach to conduct their analysis. Target centric analysis has never been standardized in any systematic way, but it is now widely recognized as an important methodology. This is demonstrated by the widespread efforts to acquire or build information systems specifically to assist in various kinds of target centric analysis.

For example, the current interest by the intelligence community in such commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products as the Oracle line of relational data bases for the purpose of creating target knowledge bases. Such knowledge bases are not just repositories of information, but feature retrieval applications that perform the sort of 'network' and model building that Clark rather laborously proposes. Indeed one COTS system, an i2 Corporation development called 'Analyst Notebook' is virtually custom built for the kind of target centric analysis recommended by the book. Incidentally, 'Analyst Notebook' has proven very popular with various intelligence and law enforcement agencies all of whom appear to have already discovered the target centric approach.

The arcane subject of how to conduct intelligence analysis is vitally important to the U.S. Intelligence Community(IC). There is no doubt that current intelligence analysis in IC is badly flawed and could be vastly improved. It is a shame this book won't do much to help the situation.

Rating:
Summary: comprehensive overview of the analyst's job
Review: Robert Clark author of Intelligence Analysis, has written an extremely comprehensive work on the discipline of intelligence analysis. -Intelligence Analysis is a must read for every analyst, whether you are new to the profession, a seasoned professional, or someone who really wants to understand the analysis field. Clark provides insight into the target-centric approach and provides many useful examples as well. This book will become the premier reference on intelligence techniques and analysis for every true analyst.

Rating:
Summary: extremely comprehensive work on the discipline of intelligen
Review: Robert Clark author of Intelligence Analysis, has written an extremely comprehensive work on the discipline of intelligence analysis. -Intelligence Analysis is a must read for every analyst, whether you are new to the profession, a seasoned professional, or someone who really wants to understand the analysis field. Clark provides insight into the target-centric approach and provides many useful examples as well. This book will become the premier reference on intelligence techniques and analysis for every true analyst.

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Summary: Required Reading for Today's Intelligence Professional
Review: Robert Clark's book is a most timely, welcome, and important contribution to the literature on intelligence. His target-centric approach captures how intelligence is produced today, and probably how analysis has always been performed. The importance of Dr. Clark's book is that he correctly places the analyst at the center of an effort that hinges on the precise definition of every requirement and then reaching out to the individuals and organizations possibly possessing the data. Dr. Clark's conceptual framework replaces the construct that was more appropriate to producing printed pages and an age when the threat was known well. In that era, the analyst's role as a manager of the knowledge-building effort was not as appreciated as much as the individual's mastery of the topic. Today, people are emphasizing collaboration, horizontal integration, and providing intelligence consumers with what they need, when they need it and in the desired form without any clutter. Dr. Clark gave us an approach for getting our arms around these challenges over a year ago. On an intelligence professional's bookshelf, this book should resemble a repair shop manual - its pages ought to be dog-eared and fingerprint-stained from continuous reference.



Rating:
Summary: A Must Have For Analysts
Review: Robert Clark's book on analysis revolutionizes intelligence analysis by breaking with the stale analytical methodologies of old while redefining the traditional intelligence cycle. His main point centers around the concept that the traditional intelligence cycle largely ignores the target (given that the target is not even depicted in intelligence cycle charts). While the traditional approach may have proved adequate against the slow moving Soviet threat, it is not adequate given the current Global War on Terrorism reality.

The book is very well written with ample examples and illustrations which assist the reader in understanding the applicability of the target-centric approach. This book is a must read for all intelligence analysts who are interested in combating the emerging threats of the new millennium.

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Summary: Excellent & thorough, as to both form and function...
Review: This is the best work for an account of the role of analysis and its relationship within the intelligence industry. I recommend this book as required reading prior, or in accordance with the first semester of the research methods series of courses at the graduate level.

The material is applicable across various disciplines including law enforcement and military operations, diplomacy, and business. Besides a consistent introduction to tools, arrangements, and concepts, Dr. Clark introduces novel methods such as Delphi; "A major advantage of the target-centric approach is that it formalizes the process of obtaining expert opinions. It also lends itself readily to techniques, such as Delphi... One objective of the Delphi method is the encouragement, rather than the suppression, of conflicting or divergent opinions." Pg. 116.

Much of what can be said about the need for new mechanisms to plan and coordinate U.S. national defense missions also applies to homeland security operations. Every significant policy, plan, and operation against terrorists, drug traffickers, and other criminals demands a coordinated response. Therefore, a full understanding and appreciation of intelligence analysis and the analyst's role is rudimentary for consumers of intelligence products.