Product Description

For nearly 50 years, facing a static enemy, American intelligence analysis was based on a hierarchical decision-making process that oftentimes insulated analysts from criticism and interaction with the ultimate consumers of their product. In countering asymmetric threats and non-state adversaries, the model is simply outmoded. A flatter, horizontal, networked solution has proven much more effective in today's world.

In his second edition, Robert Clark--former CIA analyst and executive in the Intelligence Directorate--explains how a collaborative, target-centric process both attends to the needs of the customer and promotes more effective collection. Based on feedback from users, early chapters introduce the concept of model synthesis more gradually. Recent intelligence events--with the Iraqi WMD Commission Report at center stage--illustrate the importance of target-centric analysis. This revision also includes broader treatment of collection strategies, systems analysis, and analyst-customer interaction as well as more attention to denial and deception, and to both counterterrorism and counterintelligence analysis.

This new edition contains updates of the practical information and day-to-day details from the previous book told as only an experienced intelligence hand could. Extensive descriptions of the art of target modeling and organizational analysis, as well as thoroughly detailed overviews of the quantitative and predictive techniques used in intelligence analysis make this book an essential tool for illuminating an often shadowy world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19805 in Books
• Published on: 2006-09-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 244 pages

About the Author
Robert M. Clark has been an intelligence analyst for 36 years, currently serving as an independent consultant assessing threats to U.S. space systems. He helped develop and is a faculty member for the Intelligence Community Officers' Course. Clark is the former president and CEO of the Scientific and Technical Analysis Corporation. He served in the United States Air Force as an electronics warfare officer and intelligence officer, reaching the rank of lieutenant colonel, and in the CIA as an analyst and as the chief of the Directorate of Intelligence's Analytic Support Group. Clark holds an SB from MIT, a PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois, and a JD from George Washington University. He is a presidential interchange executive, a member of the Virginia state bar, and a patent attorney.

Customer Reviews

comprehensive overview of the analyst's job
I bought this book looking for a thorough explanation of the intelligence analyst's job as I am currently an applicant for an intelligence analyst position with a US Govt agency. This book provides a comprehensive and in-depth discussion of the methods used by analysts and discusses the logical interplay between analysts and information collectors, and analysts and policy-makers. The book is clearly organized and lucidly written. Almost every aspect of the analyst's job is discussed in sufficient detail that the reader should feel completely knowledgeable of how the analyst makes estimations and predictions, and the inherent difficulty in doing so. As a career design engineer I was surprised to realize how many engineering topics were discussed - (Kalman Filtering, feedback analysis, etc.). The author makes a liberal use of relevant examples to clarify his points. The sub-title of this book suggests that the central thesis is to present and propose a new method of analysis, but I think it would be more accurate to sub-title it (Intelligence Analysis: "The" Target-Centric Approach) as opposed to "A" Target-Centric Approach. The target-centric approach is an old idea used in many disciplines, and the book still serves to thoroughly discuss the analyst's job whether or not a target-centric approach is used. However, from other sources I have investigated, the intelligence community is embracing the Target-Centric approach already as indicated by the multi-agency Joint Terrorism Task Force recently created. Therefore I think this book really discusses the current state of analysis.
For anyone trying to decide on a career in intelligence analysis this is the first book you need.
The only topic that I feel Mr. Clark did not discuss is provided in another excellent book entitled "The Psychology of Intelligence Analysis" by Richard Huerer. The book is available for free online at the CIA's website. The book discusses, among other applicable things, the reasons for and the prevention of biases in making analyses. It should be the second book you read on the road to understanding how the analyst does his job.

Excellent & thorough, as to both form and function...
This is the best work for an account of the role of analysis and its relationship within the intelligence industry. I recommend this book as required reading prior, or in accordance with the first semester of the research methods series of courses at the graduate level.

The material is applicable across various disciplines including law enforcement and military operations, diplomacy, and business. Besides a consistent introduction to tools, arrangements, and concepts, Dr. Clark introduces novel methods such as Delphi; "A major advantage of the target-centric approach is that it formalizes the process of obtaining expert opinions. It also lends itself readily to techniques, such as Delphi... One objective of the Delphi method is the encouragement, rather than the suppression, of conflicting or divergent opinions." Pg. 116.

Much of what can be said about the need for new mechanisms to plan and coordinate U.S. national defense missions also applies to homeland security operations. Every significant policy, plan, and operation against terrorists, drug traffickers, and other criminals demands a coordinated response. Therefore, a full understanding and appreciation of intelligence analysis and the analyst's role is rudimentary for consumers of intelligence products.

Required Reading for Today's Intelligence Professional
Robert Clark's book is a most timely, welcome, and important contribution to the literature on intelligence. His target-centric approach captures how intelligence is produced today, and probably how analysis has always been performed. The importance of Dr. Clark's book is that he correctly places the analyst at the center of an effort that hinges on the precise definition of every requirement and then reaching out to the individuals and organizations possibly possessing the data. Dr. Clark's conceptual framework replaces the construct that was more appropriate to producing printed pages and an age when the threat was known well. In that era, the analyst's role as a manager of the knowledge-building effort was not as appreciated as much as the individual's mastery of the topic. Today, people are emphasizing collaboration, horizontal integration, and providing intelligence consumers with what they need, when they need it and in the desired form without any clutter. Dr. Clark gave us an approach for getting our arms around these challenges over a year ago. On an intelligence professional's bookshelf, this book should resemble a repair shop manual - its pages ought to be dog-eared and fingerprint-stained from continuous reference.