ATP 2-33.4, page 11

PART ONE Analysis Fundamentals and Skills Chapter 1 Fundamentals of Intelligence Analysis This chapter discusses the fundamentals of intelligence analysis. It defines the intelligence analysis process and describes this process for single-source and all- source analysis. This chapter also addresses collaboration through the intelligence warfighting function and the automation support required to effectively perform the analysis process. OVERVIEW 1-1. Analysis is the examination of information in detail in order to understand it better and evaluate data in order to develop knowledge or conclusions. Information is processed data of every description which may be used when conducting analysis; information generally provides some of the answers to who, what, where, and when questions. Knowledge is the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association derived from information, facts, and descriptions. Knowledge helps ascribe meaning and value to the conditions or events within an operation, Analysis performed by intelligence personnel helps create knowledge in support of decisionmaking. 1-2. Commanders make decisions based on their understanding of the environment in which they are operating; intelligence analysis aids the commander in gaining the situational understanding necessary to decisionmaking. Forming a coherent intelligence picture during the decisionmaking process is difficult. In addition to determining how the physical environment may affect operations, intelligence personnel must assess how the presence and actions of thinking threats and civilian populations can influence situations and affect desired outcomes. Intelligence personnel must often assess extremely complex situations. 1-3. Intelligence personnel must accept and embrace ambiguity in conducting analysis. Training, knowledge, and experience are all critical parts of dealing with uncertainty. Intelligence personnel never have all the information necessary to make an intelligence assessment. To be effective, intelligence personnel must have a detailed awareness of their commander’s requirements and a thorough understanding of the intelligence process and its ability to satisfy those requirements. Combining good analytical techniques with area knowledge and experience is the best combination to provide accurate, meaningful assessments to commanders and leaders. Subject matter expertise alone will not guarantee the development of logical or accurate conclusions. Intelligence personnel must also know how to arrive at logical, well- reasoned, unbiased conclusions based on analysis. To help alleviate the ambiguity, intelligence analysts should identify gaps in their understanding of the operational environment. 18 August 2014 ATP 2-33.4 1-1 18 August 2014 ATP 2-33.4 1-1 PART ONE Analysis Fundamentals and Skills Chapter 1 Fundamentals of Intelligence Analysis This chapter discusses the fundamentals of intelligence analysis. It defines the intelligence analysis process and describes this process for single-source and all- source analysis. This chapter also addresses collaboration through the intelligence warfighting function and the automation support required to effectively perform the analysis process. OVERVIEW 1-1. Analysis is the examination of information in detail in order to understand it better and evaluate data in order to develop knowledge or conclusions. Information is processed data of every description which may be used when conducting analysis; information generally provides some of the answers to who, what, where, and when questions. Knowledge is the fact or condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association derived from information, facts, and descriptions. Knowledge helps ascribe meaning and value to the conditions or events within an operation. Analysis performed by intelligence personnel helps create knowledge in support of decisionmaking. 1-2. Commanders make decisions based on their understanding of the environment in which they are operating; intelligence analysis aids the commander in gaining the situational understanding necessary to decisionmaking. Forming a coherent intelligence picture during the decisionmaking process is difficult. In addition to determining how the physical environment may affect operations, intelligence personnel must assess how the presence and actions of thinking threats and civilian populations can influence situations and affect desired outcomes. Intelligence personnel must often assess extremely complex situations. 1-3. Intelligence personnel must accept and embrace ambiguity in conducting analysis. Training, knowledge, and experience are all critical parts of dealing with uncertainty. Intelligence personnel never have all the information necessary to make an intelligence assessment. To be effective, intelligence personnel must have a detailed awareness of their commander’s requirements and a thorough understanding of the intelligence process and its ability to satisfy those requirements. Combining good analytical techniques with area knowledge and experience is the best combination to provide accurate, meaningful assessments to commanders and leaders. Subject matter expertise alone will not guarantee the development of logical or accurate conclusions. Intelligence personnel must also know how to arrive at logical, well- reasoned, unbiased conclusions based on analysis. To help alleviate the ambiguity, intelligence analysts should identify gaps in their understanding of the operational environment.