ABSTRACT
This chapter examines how sources should be evaluated to ensure that information is credible before analysis can begin. It outlines the differences between intelligence in the corporate and government worlds. The chapter proposes how and why analysis sometimes breaks down and explores a number of techniques to avoid major analytical pitfalls. The different models of corporate intelligence processing can be roughly divided into three categories: Intelligence assessment, target-centric investigations and criminal pattern analysis. Intelligence analysts sit at the heart of the intelligence analysis process, which is ultimately a human endeavor conducted by an individual or group. Intelligence analysis involves the development of inferences and the creation of hypotheses. Analysis is often viewed as the most important part of the whole intelligence apparatus, and in many corporations, the analyst works in isolation, with the title of this role showing the weight put onto this stage. Human psychology is one of the most important things to bear in mind when conducting analysis.
