Intelligence community: structure, functions, and oversight

¶ … Human interaction provides a roadmap of how we think and process information. The human brain is bipolar with one side, being more feminine, incorporates the emotional and subjective types of data, where the left brain models the scenario and attempts to gather, dissect and disseminate that information for a better purpose. This modeling process can be very helpful in the military intelligence community to help organizations reach better conclusions and hence plan and operate in a more direct and impactful way.

The business world in its attempts to seek and gain a competitive advantage in many different ways and forms provides useful modeling techniques that can be used in any industry or scenario. Relating these business models to the intelligence community requires a strong understanding of the words and phrases used within these models. Once a common language has been established, and all key terms are understood, the models can be used in lieu of other more rigid and fallible military styles. Businessballs (nd) agreed with this idea: "Business Process Modeling is not only carried out in conventional businesses; the methodology is increasingly applicable to all sorts of other organizations, for example government agencies and departments, charities, mutual's and cooperatives, etc..

The SWOT analysis, a common business model is very relevant to intelligence gathering. In the business world, strengths weaknesses, opportunities and threats are examined to help determine an organization's position within an industry. This is no different than paragraph one of most operation orders describing the situation on the battlefield. Business goals and military goals are essentially the same: success. It does not and should not matter where inspiration comes from or how it is manifested, what is most important is winning that battle and accomplishing the mission. Information processing must use modeling in some form or fashion and taking cues from the business world can be an effective and efficient means of contributing to accomplishing the mission.

Question 2

Grabo (2002) wrote "Warning is a skill unto itself, requiring an understanding of the attitudes and disciplines of potential adversaries as well as their capabilities, their history, their culture and their biases." It appears almost too obvious, but it is important that intelligence officers become aware of the threats and dangers that are truly present within one's environment. Warnings, treated as prophecy, can cause large problems and divert important resources away from what is really important. Models can help in this situation by providing solid and reasonable methods, visual and otherwise, to provide critical understanding to an ever changing and complex battlefield that exists in today's turbulent world.

Grabo discussed indicators as a modeling tool. She wrote "in compiling indicator lists, analysts will draw on three major sources of knowledge: logic or longtime historical precedent; specific knowledge of the military doctrine or practices of the state or states concerned; and the lessons learned from the behavior of that state or those states during a recent war or international crisis, " (p.26). Using this information, warnings are more complex than what they appear and can be accompanies with these types of indicator lists.

Models can help identify warnings before they become fully realized danger. Taking the time to analyze this information with the help of graphics, timelines pictures and even sounds can help intelligence units approach and identify large masses of information and data with an approach that seeks to prioritize the tasks needed to establish a cohesive order of battle. Fundamentals are very important in all aspects of war fighting and leadership development. Something as simple as a warning must be fundamentally approached to attain all the data that is contained in any piece of intelligence. Synthesizing a model to the appropriate situation provides a battle drill to help address this situation and grasp the basic tenets of situation before processing it as intelligence.

Question 3

An OODA Loop is a model that attempts to manage the thinking process. This model is an acronym for Observe, Orient, Decide and Act. This model is simple in its form but its application requires more than just an academic understanding of its components OODA Loops as thinking models are limited in their use due to the subjective nature of each important part of its larger meaning.