Critical Thinking for Strategic Analysis is organized around twenty key questions that all analysts should ask as they prepare to conduct research, draft papers, and present their analysis. We divided the twenty questions into four groups, focusing on the four stages of generating an analytic product: 1. How do I get started? 2. Where is the information I need? 3. What is my argument? 4. How do I convey my message most effectively? We have long contended that the best way to learn is by doing. In writing this book, we choose to practice what we preach by including a set of case studies that the reader can use to reinforce understanding of the key points in the book. The case studies focus on a wide range of topics, covering political, economic, military, cyber, and health-related issues. At the end of each chapter, we provide a set of questions instructors and students can use to test whether the key teaching points have been absorbed. Throughout the book, feature boxes will alert you to the need to stop and reflect, and identify what structured analytic techniques best support the activities discussed in that chapter. We also include some of our favorite quotations and a robust set of graphics and text boxes to illustrate key points. The back cover of the book includes a foldout graphic, the Analyst's Roadmap, that captures on one page key points made in the book. The answers to the questions found at the end of each chapter are contained in a set of instructor materials that are free as a downloadable PDF to all instructors as well as government and private sector analysts who purchase the book. The graphics contained are also available to instructors and government and private sector analysts as free, downloadable JPEG and PowerPoint slides. You can register to obtain these instructor materials at college.cqpress.com/sites/intel-resources/.

Critical Thinking for Strategic Intelligence

Pherson, Katherine H.

Pherson, Randolph H.

Criminal Law

CQ Press

With this second edition of Critical Thinking for Strategic Intelligence, Randolph H. Pherson and Katherine Hibbs Pherson update 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. New material includes a chapter on working with statistics and probabilities at an introductory level; discussions on how to work with social media; managing the "big data" phenomenon and what role analysis plays both at the front and back end of utilizing such information. Each of the book’s chapters are consistently organized, enabling students and analysts alike to easily trace the key steps of: Setting the Stage; Looking More Deeply; Key Takeaways; Considering the Case Study, and the book’s illustrations include useful graphics that diagram and display the processes and structured analytic techniques for arriving at the best possible analytical products. The "Analyst’s Roadmap" provides an at-a-glance "map" for readers depicting the best practices involved in perfecting the analytical product. A set of carefully crafted case studies on national intelligence, homeland security, and law enforcement issues illustrate how to apply these critical thinking skills tie directly to end-of-chapter questions, providing valuable self-assessment opportunities.

Review\n"Kathy and Randy Pherson have written what should be THE standard for anyone interested in disciplined critical thinking. It should be a standard text for anyone pursuing a career in the intelligence community and, for that matter, for those currently serving. Logical, persuasive, useful, richly illustrated and documented, the 3rd edition has greatly refreshed their previous work." - Lt. Gen. James R. Clapper, former US Director of National Intelligence."Critical Thinking for Strategic Intelligence is well established as the most important text for professional analysts and for scholars and students of intelligence analysis. It this new 3rd edition, Kathy and Randy Pherson incorporate significant updates that will keep the book exactly where it always has been - on the cutting edge of the analytic profession. Simply put: it is a must read!" - Michael Morrell, former Acting Director, Deputy Director, and Director of Analysis, US Central Intelligence Agency ."The knowledge in this book, drawn from practical examples and well-researched methods, gives you the basic tools you need whether you are a seasoned professional or just getting started. These are the tools you should know as part of the craft." - Tommy Skaug, Norwegian National Cyber Security Center."Critical thinking is essential for solid business decision making. In the challenging post-pandemic business environment, only the companies making the best thought-through decisions will flourish. Kathy and Randy Pherson provide their Ivy League business school quality of thinking to support you to do just that." - Eric Elgersma, Director, Strategic Analysis Services BV, The Netherlands."This book is an outstanding contribution to one of the most important aspects of intelligence practice globally. It captures the essence of critical thinking and will resonate with intelligence professionals tasked with producing quality strategic intelligence. I congratulate Randy and Kathy Pherson for their dedication to the craft." - Phil Kowalick, President, Australian Institute of Professional Intelligence Officers\nForeword to 3rd Edition.In reviewing this third edition of Critical Thinking for Strategic Intelligence, I recall well my impressions when I read the first edition nearly a decade ago. In 2011, the surprise of Arab Spring, the impact of the death of Osama bin Laden, and the implications of the end of the Iraq War kept our intelligence analytic focus on counterterrorism and warfighter support. Now the world is even more complex with political and economic polarization, shifting alliances, sociological and environmental disruptions, and disinformation. The need for insightful warning and solid, dispassionate analysis has never been greater..Kathy and Randy Pherson's book stands the test of time. It tackles change head on, incorporating timely issues and sources to help analysts deal with evolution in the ways they work as well as the issues they study. This one-of-a-kind guide should be used by all practitioners from the front lines to the C-suite.. - Charles E. Allen, Principal, The Chertoff Group; former Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, DHS; and former Assistant Director of Central Intelligence for Collection, CIA\nWith 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?\nThe Third Edition includes suggested best practices for dealing with digital disinformation, politicization, and AI. Drawing upon their years of

Business & Money

Management & Leadership

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Pherson, Katherine H.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Pherson, Katherine H.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Pherson, Katherine H.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Critical Thinking for Strategic Intelligence

Critical Thinking for Strategic Intelligence

Critical Thinking for Strategic Intelligence