Approaches to Enhance Sensemaking for Intelligence Analysis

Abstract

This essay describes four approaches to enhance sensemaking for intelligence analysis. Sensemaking refers to how individuals, groups, and organizations make sense out of their situation and environment. The four approaches are to attack every problem as a Fermi problem, to build a strong vocabulary-with both English and foreign words, to cultivate a knack for reasoning through analogy and stories, and to apply persuasion skills to interact more productively with others. Each approach is explained from a sensemaking perspective and linked to Richard Heuer's Psychology of Intelligence Analysis. Examples from the World War II exploits of Reginald V. Jones, the father of modern scientific and technical intelligence, are used to illustrate each approach. Additional examples collected during interviews with six practicing intelligence analysts are also presented. Ideas for how analysts can gain competence in using each approach are suggested. Finally, some ideas for future research are recommended.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 17, 2002
Accession Number
ADA406494

Entities

People

  • Michael S. McBeth

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • C4I
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Defense
  • Aircrafts
  • Command And Control
  • Defense Systems
  • Electromagnetic Wave Propagation
  • Foreign Languages
  • Intelligence Analysis
  • Intelligence Analysts
  • Language
  • Personnel Management
  • Psychology
  • Scientific And Technical Intelligence
  • Second World War
  • Security
  • Technical Intelligence
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Geospatial Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence Analytics
  • Team-Based Human-Centered Cognitive Task Decision Making and Information Performance.
  • Theoretical Analysis.