Improving Analytic Reasoning (Virtual Course)

Open enrolment and in-house options available

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the tools and techniques analysts can use to enhance analytic reasoning. The course begins with a brief introduction to the mechanics of analytical reasoning and the many factors that can affect the quality of your thinking. You will then be introduced to the discipline of challenge analysis and how this can be used to stress-test your analytic judgements. Thereafter, you will be introduced to a portfolio of tools and techniques to help you bolster your thinking and address the cognitive limitations common to analysts everywhere.

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Course Outline

Cognitive Challenges to Effective Analysis

Understanding the Mind of the Analyst

  • Analysis as a thought process
  • A typology of thinking styles
  • The role of perception and memory
  • Understanding beliefs and opinions
  • Thinking alone and in groups
  • The role of emotions in our thinking process

Analytic Maturity

  • Introduction to analytic maturity
  • The indicators of maturity and immaturity
  • Self and organisational maturity assessments
  • Building analytic maturity in your organisation

Introduction to Cognitive Pathologies

  • Core concepts, definitions and examples
  • A typology of cognitive pathologies
  • Cognitive limitations affecting individuals
  • Cognitive limitations affecting groups
  • Strategies to mitigate cognitive limitations

The Causes of Analytic Error

  • Cognitive pathologies as a source of analytic error and intelligence failure
  • Non-cognitive causes of analytic error
  • Assessing personal and team susceptibility to analytic error

Challenge Analysis

  • Introducing Challenge Analysis
  • Tools to support Challenge Analysis
  • Benefits, challenges and limitations
  • Integrating challenge analysis into your analytic workflows and practices

Exploring Perspectives - Mastering Dialectical Thinking

Introduction to Dialectical Thinking

  • Key definitions and concepts
  • The principles of dialectical thinking
  • Benefits, challenges and limitations
  • Dialectical thinking and challenge analysis

Recommended Tools, Frameworks and Methodologies

  • Collaborative sensemaking
  • Perspective mapping
  • Interpretive analysis
  • Adversarial thinking
  • Multiple hypothesis generation

Changing Your Lens - The Reframing Toolkit

Transforming Your Understanding

  • Framing, reframing and redefining issues
  • Applying analogical reasoning
  • Applying historical reasoning
  • The art and science of triangulation
  • Anticipating the unexpected and unlikely
  • Working with arguments and counterarguments

Dealing with Cognitive Biases, Assumptions, and Logical Fallacies

On Cognitive Biases

  • Core concepts and definitions
  • A typology of cognitive biases
  • The impact of bias on analytic reasoning
  • Examples and case studies
  • Debiasing tools and techniques
  • The importance of self-awareness

Working with Assumptions

  • The role of assumptions in analytic reasoning
  • A typology of assumptions and their differences
  • Assumption surfacing tools and techniques
  • Testing and evaluating assumptions

Spotting and Avoiding Logical Fallacies

  • Logical fallacies and why they matter
  • Identifying logical fallacies in arguments
  • Common fallacies and their characteristics
  • Strategies to detect and avoid fallacies

Managing Organisational Blind Spots

Understanding Organisational Blind Spots

  • Defining organisational blind spots
  • A typology of blind spots and their characteristics
  • The impact of blind spots on organisational reasoning

Identifying Organisational Blind Spots

  • Identifying blind spots
  • Practical and perceptual measures
  • Warning indicators and how to track them

Addressing and Preventing Blind Spots

  • Deterring blind spots
    • The manager's perspective
    • The analyst's perspective
  • Addressing blind spots
View Dates and Register Request in-house course

Course Details

WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?

This course is intended for anyone engaged in online research, including intelligence, security and law enforcement personnel, journalists, investigators, cybersecurity practitioners, and business analysts.

HOW YOU BENEFIT

On completion of this course you will have the ability to:

  • Understand the factors affecting analytic reasoning
  • Describe the cognitive limitations common to all analysts
  • Understand the sources of analytic failure
  • Apply strategies to minimise individual and team vulnerabilities
  • Use challenge analysis and other techniques to guard against biases, assumptions and other logical fallacies
  • Recognise and address individual and organisational blind spots
  • Enhance your organisation’s analytic effectiveness

WHAT YOU RECEIVE

  • A certificate of completion
  • All course slides in PDF format
  • Templates to support the application of the techniques taught
  • One hour of private consulting if needed
  • Six months of post-course support

COURSE FEE

EUR 1,200

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

Please observe the following technical requirements:

  • You will need a Windows or Mac laptop (tablet computers are not recommended)
  • Install Google Chrome
  • Install Microsoft Office
  • Install Zoom
  • Set up a Google account to facilitate the use of online tools
  • A second monitor is recommended but not essential

Additional software requirements will be sent prior to the start of the course.

Course Prerequisites

We recommend that participants first complete our Intelligence Analysis: Foundations course before undertaking this program. This is to ensure they understand our approach to critical, creative and conceptual reasoning.