ABSTRACT
Analysis—both its cognitive and its technical dimensions—are at the heart of all core intelligence processes regardless of the context in which intelligence is practiced. This chapter investigates common analytical techniques currently utilised in ‘Five Eyes’ countries and what the intelligence communities (IC) leadership need to know about them from a broader organisational perspective. It provides a thematic exploration of a few well-known analytical techniques along with their strengths and weaknesses. Several psychological and other social sciences perspectives have also become relevant to intelligence analysis. Intelligence analysis will remain an art and science. However, the complexity of the security environment will demand additional analytical innovations that can augment traditional tradecraft. The chapter concludes with an assessment on how both the validity and utility of various analytical techniques impacts on broader leadership (governance) challenges within ICs.
