There are more ways to approach a problem than I ever considered prior to taking this course. From the linear vs. non-linear, System 1 vs. System 2, mental models, and vertical vs. lateral thinking to name a few. Inside each of these processes there are several other ideas to build off of and apply to everyday situations.
The ability to employ them into my workload has proven to be helpful in identifying the various biases as well. I will admit that I absolutely have fallen into the pitfalls of biases when working with intelligence materials in the past. Understanding what they are is half the battle to eliminating them from my analysis.
Intelligence is not a cookie cutter scenario, everyday and every instance is going to be unique in it’s own right. Taking time to interpret data and combine additional sources to generate a more complete picture is essential to building a comprehensive understanding of any adversary action or activity.
Moving forward, I will apply the lessons taught in this course to approach intelligence analysis with humility and balance. There is no one answer and it is impossible to operate in your own mind when tackling these problems. Considering all of the possibilities, understanding what shortcomings I have and working to combine data with outside support is vital to winning the finite game in the infinite game of life.