pherson critical thinking for strategic intelligence

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Critical Thinking for Strategic Intelligence

Katherine hibbs pherson, randolph h. pherson.

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“This is a wonderful resource for those beginning to master analytical writing techniques. It's thorough, complete and engaging. [The text is] an excellent resource for beginners who want to learn how to conduct intelligence analysis.”

This is exactly what I have been looking for to use for the advanced analytics course, as it combines techniques with application and has some examples. It walks the new analyst through the process and discusses the techniques for success. Best book I have found on the practical aspects of intelligence analysis.”

“Many instructors of undergraduate students complain that their students do not possess the tools and skills for problem solving, research, analysis, and writing demanded for their academic programs. Deployment of this text, in any academic field or context, can help solve that problem.”

“The Phersons have produced a clear and detailed guide to the application of critical thinking in the preparation of effective analytical presentations. This book should serve as essential reading for analysts everywhere, especially students and young professionals.”

Preview this book

Sample materials & chapters.

Chapter 1: Who Are Your Clients?

Chapter 2: What Are the Key Questions?

Critical Thinking in Action: Case Solutions by Casey Cannon and Randolph H. Pher

Katherine Hibbs Pherson, President of Globalytica, LLC, consults with government and private industry on building strong analytic communities, the use of structured analytic techniques, and security issues. She teaches certificate courses on structured thinking and presentation for the security association ASIS International and in the Intelligence Masters program at Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid, Spain. As Vice Chair of the Intelligence and National Security Association (INSA)’s Security Policy Reform Council, she was primary drafter of its white paper titled “Next Steps for... More About Author

Randolph H. Pherson is president of Pherson Associates, LLC; CEO of Globalytica, LLC; and a founding director of the nonprofit Forum Foundation for Analytic Excellence. He teaches advanced analytic techniques and critical thinking skills to analysts in the government and private sector. Mr. Pherson collaborated with Richards Heuer Jr. in developing and launching use of Analysis of Competing Hypotheses, and he developed several analytic techniques for the CIA’s Sherman Kent School, many of which were incorporated in his Handbook of Analytic Tools and Techniques. He coauthored Critical Thinking for Strategic Intelligence with Katherine Hibbs... More About Author

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Critical Thinking for Strategic Intelligence Paperback – 17 September 2020

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With Critical Thinking for Strategic Intelligence , Katherine Hibbs Pherson and Randolph H. Pherson have updated their highly regarded, easy-to-use handbook for developing core critical thinking skills and analytic techniques. This indispensable text is framed around 20 key questions that all analysts must ask themselves as they prepare to conduct research, generate hypotheses, evaluate sources of information, draft papers, and ultimately present analysis, including: How do I get started? Where is the information I need? What is my argument? How do I convey my message effectively? The Third Edition includes suggested best practices for dealing with digital disinformation, politicization, and AI. Drawing upon their years of teaching and analytic experience, Pherson and Pherson provide a useful introduction to skills that are essential within the intelligence community.

• Print length 464 pages
• Language English
• Publisher SAGE Publications Inc
• Publication date 17 September 2020
• Dimensions 15.24 x 2.69 x 22.86 cm
• ISBN-10 1544374267
• ISBN-13 978-1544374260
• See all details

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Product description

This is exactly what I have been looking for to use for the advanced analytics course, as it combines techniques with application and has some examples. It walks the new analyst through the process and discusses the techniques for success. Best book I have found on the practical aspects of intelligence analysis."

About the Author

Product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ SAGE Publications Inc; 3rd edition (17 September 2020)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 464 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1544374267
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1544374260
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.24 x 2.69 x 22.86 cm
• 422 in Intelligence & Espionage (Books)
• 704 in Strategic Business Planning
• 763 in Business Strategy & Competition

About the authors

Randolph h. pherson.

I have been developing and teaching Structured Analytic Techniques and critical thinking and writing skills for almost two decades to analysts throughout the intelligence, homeland security, and defense communities as well as in the private sector and overseas. Since retiring from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 2000, i have authored, co-authored, and edited eleven books on intelligence analysis. You can find them on shop.globalytica.com. I am best known for co-authoring Structured Analytic Techniques for Intelligence Analysis with Richards J. Heuer, Jr. and Critical Thinking for Strategic Intelligence with my wife, Katherine Hibbs Pherson. I also write a monthly blog, the Analytic Insider, www.globalytica.com, that provides insights on how to use analytic techniques to better understand how the world is evolving and learn what you can do to stay ahead of the brewing chaos.

As Chief Executive Officer of Globalytica, LLC, i have taught courses in over two dozen countries, supporting major financial institutions, global retailers, and security firms. I am also a Founding Director of the Forum Foundation for Analytic Excellence, a nonprofit that supports the propagation of critical thinking skills and structured analytic techniques. Our companies has taught critical thinking skills and structured analytic techniques to 10 of the Fortune Top 100. We also facilitate Strategic Foresight Analysis workshops for foreign governments, international foundations, and multinational corporations and holds the patent on a suite of collaborative analytic tools. As CEO and as President of Pherson Associates, I have assisted senior corporate and government officials in building robust analytic organizations. Our companies have developed and implemented programs on how to increase the quality and speed of delivery of analytic products for US Government agencies, Homeland Security Fusion Centers, a major global law firm, and a major oil company.I am also a Founding Director of the Forum Foundation for Analytic Excellence, a nonprofit that supports the propagation of critical thinking skills and structured analytic techniques.

Before becoming involved in teaching analytic techniques, I worked for almost three decades in the Intelligence Community, last serving as National Intelligence Officer (NIO) for Latin America. While at the Central Intelligence Agency, I managed the production of intelligence analysis on topics ranging from global instability to Latin America, served on the Inspector General's staff, and developed and implemented a strategic planning process for the agency. I am the proud recipient of the Distinguished Intelligence Medal for my service as NIO for Latin America and the Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal. My academic background is a political science major specializing in African Studies at Dartmouth College and an M.A. in International Relations from Yale University where I also took courses at the Yale Law School.

Katherine Hibbs Pherson

Katherine Hibbs Pherson, Chief Executive Officer of Pherson Associates, teaches advanced analytic techniques and critical thinking skills to analysts in the intelligence and homeland security communities, the private sector, and academia. She is also a consultant to the government on planning, security, and analysis projects, President of Pherson Associates' sister company Globalytica, and founding board member of the non-profit Forum Foundation for Analytic Excellence. She co-authored Critical Thinking for Strategic Intelligence with her husband and business partner, Randy.

Ms. Pherson completed in 2000 a 27-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency in intelligence and security analysis and resource management. Her leadership in the security arena led to the adoption of a risk management methodology, the strengthening and the implementation of overseas security countermeasures, and improvements in dealing with unsolicited contacts. As Director of the DCI's Center for Security Evaluation she managed the Intelligence Community's involvement in rebuilding the penetrated U.S. Embassy in Moscow. Ms. Pherson received her A.B. in Hispanic Studies from Vassar College, an M.A. in Spanish Linguistics and Latin American Studies from the University of Illinois, and an M.A. in Communications from the University of Oklahoma. She is a recipient of the CIA's Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal and the Intelligence Community's National Distinguished Service Medal.

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Critical thinking for strategic intelligence

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Critical Thinking for Strategic Intelligence

• Katherine Hibbs Pherson
• Randolph H. Pherson
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See what’s new to this edition by selecting the Features tab on this page. Should you need additional information or have questions regarding the HEOA information provided for this title, including what is new to this edition, please email [email protected] . Please include your name, contact information, and the name of the title for which you would like more information. For information on the HEOA, please go to http://ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/hea08/index.html .

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“This is a wonderful resource for those beginning to master analytical writing techniques. It's thorough, complete and engaging. [The text is] an excellent resource for beginners who want to learn how to conduct intelligence analysis.”

This is exactly what I have been looking for to use for the advanced analytics course, as it combines techniques with application and has some examples. It walks the new analyst through the process and discusses the techniques for success. Best book I have found on the practical aspects of intelligence analysis.”

“Many instructors of undergraduate students complain that their students do not possess the tools and skills for problem solving, research, analysis, and writing demanded for their academic programs. Deployment of this text, in any academic field or context, can help solve that problem.”

“The Phersons have produced a clear and detailed guide to the application of critical thinking in the preparation of effective analytical presentations. This book should serve as essential reading for analysts everywhere, especially students and young professionals.”

NEW TO THIS EDITION:

• New source categories for cyber issues and suggesting best practices to deal with digital disinformation and deep fakes , which help students understand how media has evolved and the importance of recognizing how it can hamper as well as enhance analytic conclusions.
• Discusses how humans and machines can best work together—with humans using the strengths of the machine without being intimidated by it and recognizing when its programming might be susceptible to error or bias.
• Further stressed that analysts must be prepared to produce and tailor products quickly and succinctly. Book has included resources on different presentation styles and advocates for the increased use of online training to build skills and expertise.
• Added material on politicization in a polarized world as well as thinking about the future, where data for deductively accurate point predictions does not exist.
• Clarified what is meant by “critical thinking” by discussing how it relates to other kinds of thinking, including creative thinking, design thinking, computational thinking, and visual thinking. Incorporated how concepts like “mindfulness” and “self-awareness” fit into the critical thinking process.
• "Uncharted Territory: Conflict, Competition, or Collaboration in the Arctic"
• "The Downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17"
• "Blackout on the Eastern Seaboard"
• "The Case of Iraq's Aluminum Tubes"

KEY FEATURES:

• Each of the book's chapters is organized in the same four-section structure – Setting the Stage, Looking More Deeply, Key Takeaways, and Considering the Case Study.
• A set of carefully crafted  case studies  on national intelligence, homeland security, finance, defense, and law enforcement issues illustrate how to apply critical thinking skills directly to end-of-chapter questions and provides a valuable self-assessment opportunity.
• The Analyst’s Roadmap provides an at-a-glance “map” for readers depicting the best practices involved in perfecting the analytical product.

Preview this book

Sample materials & chapters.

Chapter 1: Who Are Your Clients?

Chapter 2: What Are the Key Questions?

Critical Thinking in Action: Case Solutions by Casey Cannon and Randolph H. Pher