Structured Analytic Techniques for Intelligence Analysis

This book takes the relatively new concept of structured analytic techniques, defines its place in a taxonomy of analytic methods, and moves it a giant leap forward. It describes 50 techniques that are divided into eight categories. There are techniques for:

Decomposition and Visualization
Idea Generation
Scenarios and Indicators
Hypothesis Generation and Testing
Cause and Effect
Challenge Analysis
Conflict Management
Decision Support

Each structured technique involves a step-by-step process that externalizes an individual analyst s thinking in a manner that makes it readily apparent to others, thereby enabling it to be shared, built on, and easily critiqued by others. This structured and transparent process combined with the intuitive input of subject matter experts is expected to reduce the risk of analytic error.

Our current high tech, global environment increasingly requires collaboration between analysts with different areas of expertise and analysts representing different organizational perspectives. Structured analytic techniques are the ideal process for guiding the interaction of analysts within a small team or group. Each step in a technique prompts relevant discussion within the team, and such discussion generates and evaluates substantially more divergent information and more new ideas than a team that does not use a structured process.

By defining the domain of structured analytic techniques, providing a manual for using and teaching these techniques, and outlining procedures for evaluating and validating these techniques, this book lays a common ground for continuing improvement of how analysis is done. These techniques are especially needed in the field of intelligence analysis where analysts typically deal with incomplete, ambiguous and sometimes deceptive information. However, these practical tools for analysis are also useful in a wide variety of professions including law enforcement, medicine, finance, and business.

Customer Reviews:

Indispensable reference for forecasters

By E. M. Van Court "Van" - April 15, 2010

Anyone involved in any serious forecasting of politics or other social disciplines must have, read, and use this book. Rather than an etherial, academic reflection on why analysis is relevant, or 'what is the role of intelligence analysis', or a mathmatical treatise on Games and Decisions, this is a working reference and practical guide to structured analytical techniques. Although the title specifies "for intelligence analysis", the methodology is applicable to problem sets that are only partially or non-quantifiable, and especially applicable to issues that are ambiguous and where only incomplete information is available.

In many ways, this is the sequel to Psychology of Intelligence Analysis, also by Richard Heuer. Where "Psychology of Intelligence Analysis" focused on analytical biases, with a limited discussion of rigorous approaches to intelligence analysis, "Structured Analytic Techniques"... read more

Excellent Field Manual

By V Gordon - September 14, 2011

I rated this book as a five stars because I have been able apply the content in real world situations and improve my performance. This is an excellent compilation of analysis techniques for decision making. This book is billed as a book for the intelligence community but I find it just as applicable for common business or project decisisons. I would describe this as more of a tool box of techniques that can be utilized to flesh out hidden issues, biases and/or assumptions. Each technique is described, however to effectively utilize the technique you may have to go to the original sources to get additional detail and guidance. This is not a criticism because if each technique was explained fully, you'd have a book that was 900+ pages. For a flavor of the content of this book check out this link:
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Structured Analytic Techniques

By M. L. Harding "stainless steel" - August 20, 2010

I am pursuing a master's in library science. This book was required for my competitive intelligence class. Although the examples in the book are based in the military, if you substitute corporate or non profit situtations, it can be very helpful. I highly recommend the book, the techniques can be applied to any business environment.