BGS IC CAE Hosts Intelligence Workshop

On October 7, 2016 the BGS IC CAE hosted an intelligence workshop on Intelligence Analysis – Assessing the Opposition.  The goal for the workshop was for attendees to understand how to analyze differing perspectives on the same issue and to use intelligence analysis structured analytic techniques to assess differing perspectives and assumptions.  The first portion of the workshop was a training session lead by Dr. Mike Collier, BGS IC CAE Co-Director, based around critical thinking.  During this portion, Dr. Collier discussed how points of view and assumptions are influenced by ideologies, cultures, social capital, political views, and religions.  Analysis in the form of argument mapping, four ways of seeing, and key assumption checks were also detailed, which are methods commonly utilized by intelligence analysts.  The training portion established the foundations for the team-based activity.  This activity involved applying the information in the training session to a short case study on ISIS/ISIL.  Participants were divided into small teams and assessed deferring arguments based on point of views and assumptions (through argument mapping) to develop a key assumptions check and a list of ethical implications of each perspective.  The workshop was attended by students and faculty members from EKU, Kentucky State University, University of Kentucky, and Marshall University as well as professionals from the Kentucky State Police, Kentucky Office of Homeland Security, local law enforcement, U.S. military, and private industry.

Published on November 02, 2016