Intelligence Analysis: Foundations (Virtual Course)
Our introductory intelligence analysis course offers a solid introduction to the art and science of structured analytic reasoning. The course provides the foundational knowledge you need to establish, refine and grow your analytic toolkit. Attention is given to descriptive modes of analysis, and the complimentary skills of sensemaking, issue mapping, temporal analysis, causal reasoning, and network analysis. Whether you wish to develop analytic skills or strengthen your current expertise, this course equips you with the analytic rigor, critical insight, and structured toolkit required to transform complex information into clear, actionable intelligence.
The course will be delivered live over five, 3.5 hour sessions. There will be separate iterations of the course for Asian, European and North American audiences. Please select the start time (SGT, CET or EST) that suits you best.
Course Outline
Introduction to Analytic Reasoning
Introduction to Intelligence Analysis
- What is analysis?
- The three modes of analytic reasoning
- Key analytic strategies
- What is structured analysis?
- Working with structured analytic techniques (SATs)
Getting Started
- Project scoping for analysts
Thinking Descriptively
Understanding Descriptive Analysis
- What is descriptive analysis?
- Applications of descriptive analysis
- Misuses of descriptive analysis
On Sensemaking
- Introduction to sensemaking
- Working with sensemaking frameworks
- The 5W1H model and its variants
Issue Mapping
- Introduction to issue mapping
- The uses of issue mapping in intelligence
- Individual vs. group application
Analysing Cause-Effect Relationships
Understanding Causal Factors and Dynamics
- Key driver analysis
- Factor / factor analysis
- Actor / factor analysis
- Root cause analysis
- Causal mapping
Thinking in Time
On Charting
- On the visual presentation of information
- Benefits and limitations of charting
- Key steps in the charting process
- Charting software and tools
Temporal Analysis
- Introduction to temporal analysis
- Working with chronologies
- Working with timelines
- Working with event charts
- Working with scripts and narratives
Actor and Network Analysis
Actor Analysis
- Identifying actors
- Assessing interests and capabilities
- Understanding perspectives and motivations
- Identifying affiliations and relationships
Network Analysis
- What is Network analysis?
- Understanding key concepts
- Levels of network analysis
- Network analysis vs. link analysis
- Working with network diagrams and charts
- Social network analysis
- Network analysis software
Course Details
How You Benefit
On completion of this course you will have the ability to:
- Apply existing and develop new Structured Analytic Techniques (SATs)
- Combine multiple SATs into custom workflows
- Use visualisation techniques to organise, interpret, and present information
- Develop causal narratives using descriptive analytic techniques
- Use temporal, actor, and network analysis to uncover patterns, trends, and relationships
- Lead analytic assignments using SATs from problem framing to final assessment
What You Receive
- 2.5 days of structured, practical, instructor-led live instruction
- A certificate of completion recognised by employers
- A full set of up-to-date course slides and user guides in PDF format
- Templates to support the application of the techniques taught
- A curated set of recommended readings
- Six months of post-course support
Course Fee
CHF 1,000
Course Prerequisites
No prior knowledge of intelligence analysis or analytic reasoning is needed to take this course. We recommend this course as an essential starting point for all our analysis courses.
Course Requirements
Please observe the following technical requirements:
- You will need a Windows or Mac laptop
- Install Google Chrome
- Install Microsoft Office
- Install Zoom
- Set up a Google account
- A second monitor is recommended but not essential
Additional software requirements will be sent prior to the start of the course.
