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The Success of Intelligence Operations and Gathering Depends Upon Solid Intelligence Management

By Dan Sommer

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 28Jan2011 Word count: 599 Viewed: 400 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Intelligence operations today consist of a wide assortment of both collection methods and analysts involved in collection and intelligence analysis. Technological innovation in the past couple of decades has made the intelligence cycle even more complex, as these innovations have introduced a multitude of novel modes and sources for intelligence collection. The success of current and future intelligence operations is thus dependent upon individuals within intelligence agencies that possess sound intelligence management skills. Without effective intelligence management, intelligence operations will be fraught with questions and doubts concerning what types of information and sources are valid. This essay seeks to define a standard intelligence operation and then explains effective intelligence management and why such a skill is vital for the success of future intelligence operations.

What is an Intelligence Operation?

An intelligence operation is the process of information collection through one of several different types of intelligence disciplines, such as human intelligence (HUMINT) and signals intelligence (SIGINT). An intelligence operation involving HUMINT, for example, employs clandestine techniques known as operational tradecraft to ensure the secrecy and success of the mission.

Any successful intelligence operation requires, among many other critical elements, the support of intelligence analysts trained in operational concepts and planning, also known as targeting. Intelligence targeting packages are research packages that provide information and analysis to help intelligence collectors gather information against specific targets based on national intelligence requirements.

While intelligence operations are undertaken by virtually every nation in the world, the way in which such operations are conducted can vary considerably from state to state. Accordingly, what constitutes an intelligence operation differs depending on context. In general, intelligence operations refer to the symbiosis between collection and analysis. Furthermore, the threat posed by non-state actors and terrorist groups in recent decades has challenged world intelligence agencies to organize and respond effectively. Traditional paradigms about intelligence operations against states are challenged by the asymmetric nature of transnational threats to national security.

What is intelligence management?

One often hears about intelligence analysts and "on the ground" intelligence operatives, but what exactly is the glue that holds these operations together?

Intelligence management focuses on the various ways intelligence professionals balance art and science in the collection or employment of tactical, analytic or operational tradecraft objectives. From understanding the broad disciplines of clandestine or covert operation activity to preparing candidates for the effective management of intelligence professionals, intelligence management helps ensure that the people and processes involved in these national security efforts are effective and germane.

Critical thinking and problem solving skills, in addition to the ability to competently communicate ideas to a broad spectrum audience, are key elements in successful intelligence management. Conducting advanced intelligence analysis while managing large projects or teams in a professional manner is important for the successful intelligence manager. Intelligence managers must be well-versed in the basic concepts and practices of intelligence gathering and analysis while maintaining a balance between theoretical and operational tradecraft.

Conclusion

Why must intelligence operations be run by individuals skilled in intelligence management? Successful intelligence management is critical for the success of an intelligence operation, specifically in this day and age when analysts must sift through so much quantitative and qualitative data from new web-based sources. Information gleaned from intelligence operations is worthless unless it can be captured and processed into a valuable and accurate piece of intelligence. Those skilled in intelligence management know how to sift through this cacophony of data to see the bigger picture and without successful intelligence management, the field of intelligence would simply be awash in noisy data.

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