Intelligence cycle refers to the traditional process of collecting data, analyzing it and viewing it within the recommended context so as to come up with intelligence. Intelligence is used to plan a course of action that is suitable for the protection of the public and in line with constitutional recommendations. The intelligence cycle is applied in law enforcement and within military intelligence agencies for the purposes of assessing and validating threats and determining the course of action to be taken. The completion of a cycle is succeeded by an analysis of the success or failure of the last cycle. Generally, the intelligence cycle is made up of 6 steps.
The first phase of the intelligence cycle is the requirements phase. In this phase, the questions and areas in which intelligence is required to make a contribution are identified (Bartes, 2013). The main reason for the identification of requirements is because there are policies that govern different intelligence dockets hence it is important not to violate these policies. In the federal government of the United States, the Congress or White House can issue the requirements. The requirement phase is important as the first phase because it allows for the setting of priorities. It also initiates the intelligence cycle.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
The succeeding step after the requirements phase is the planning and directions phase. Within the second phase, the objectives of the intelligence cycle are defined by an authoritative figure based on the essential elements of information that are available. For instance; the most important objective in the mentioned scenario is the validation of the threat and identification of intelligence gaps. The intelligence departments can go about this phase by categorizing the nature of the threat, identifying the actors involved and locating the specific region where the threat shall be executed.
The next step is the collection phase which entails assembling all the raw information needed to produce finished intelligence (Vilasi, 2018). There is the development of an intelligence collection plan and inputs from different intelligence collection agencies are accepted. The main aim herein is to have enough information for the generation of finished intelligence. After all the raw information has been collected, processing and exploitation take place. Before information can be treated as intelligence, it has to be subjected to processing. Under processing, there is translation, decryption, and interpretation of the raw information. Processing is essential to determine how reliable and relevant the collected information is.
The next phase in the intelligence cycle is analysis and production. In this phase, there is the conversion of processed information into finished intelligence. Data is looked at in terms of validity, relevance, and reliability before it is merged into a coherent whole. Collateral information and patterns within the acquired information are identified (Joao, 2012). The significance of the newly developed information is also determined. Subject-matter specialists are called upon to evaluate the analyzed information and produce intelligence information which includes assessment of the events expected and implications of the information. The main aim behind such comprehensive analysis is to provide information that can allow for the monitoring of events and forecasting terrorist development so as to device means of curbing terror threats.
After the data has been finished into intelligence, it is disseminated. The process of dissemination involves the transfer of finished intelligence from the producers to the consumers. The majority of the consumers are policymakers and other important authoritative figures such as the President and Congress. The nature of intelligence that is spread to the consumers relies on its urgency, the needs of the decision makers and the reporting requirements. Notably, decision makers may issue more requirements upon receiving intelligence information, hence triggering the intelligence cycle anew.
References
Bartes, F. (2013). Five-Phase Model of the Intelligence Cycle of Competitive Intelligence. Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis LXI (2): 283–288. Retrieved from https://acta.mendelu.cz/media/pdf/actaun_2013061020283.pdf
Joao, G. (2012). Inputs and Outputs of the Intelligence Cycle: a highway to shared definitions and a knowledge base . Retrieved from https://pascal.iseg.ulisboa.pt/~goncalo/includes/2012_inputs_and_outputs.pdf
Vilasi, A. C. (2018). The Intelligence Cycle. Open Journal of Political Science, 08(01): 35-46. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322192269_The_Intelligence_Cycle
