INTELLIGENCE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES (ISG): STATUS REPORT ON SYLLABUS & READING LIST

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85B01152R000200250009-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 1, 2007
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: October 24, 1983
• Content Type: MEMO

 Approved For Release 2007/11/01 : CIA-RDP85B01152R000200250009-2
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Approved For Release 2007/11/01 : CIA-RDP85B01152R000200250009-2
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
VIA: Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
Executive Director
Deputy Director for Intelligence
Deputy Director for Administration
Director of Training and Education
Analysis aining Branch, Office of
Training and Education
SUBJECT: Intelligence Successes and Failures (ISF):
Status Report on Syllabus & Reading List
REFERENCE: Your Memorandum to the D/OTE, dated
7 April 1982, Subject: Training in
Intelligence Analysis
1. This memorandum is in response to your request for
a status report on plans for a course for analysts on the
lessons of intelligence successes and failures. I welcome
the opportunity to solicit your suggestions for shaping the
syllabus and reading list to support the objectives you had
in mind in your memorandum to Director of Training and
Education of 7 April 1982 recommending such a course. I have
already discussed goals and general approaches with the
Deputy Director for Intelligence, the Senior Review Panel,
and the Product Evaluation Staff, as well as with other
interested parties in the DI and in the Office of Training
and Education (OTE).
2. The primary objective of the course, as I read your
memorandum, is to use the CIA record to illuminate the
causes of failure and the requirements for success--in a way
that motivates analysts to improve their on-the-job
performance. In other words, the course will elicit from
the record (e.g., from " bad estimates and good estimates").
the changes in attitudes and practices that will prepare
analysts to deal more effectively with tough intelligence
problems, especially anticipation of military attack,
revolutionary overthrow of key regimes, and sharp shifts in
policy by present and potential adversaries.
 Approved For Release 2007/11/01 : CIA-RDP85B01152R000200250009-2
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SUBJECT: Intelligence Successes and Failures (ISF):
Status Report on Syllabus & Reading List
3. The Tentative Syllabus for Intelligence Successes
and Failures (ISF) contains a list of specific course
objectives and sketches out 36 hours of seminars, exercises,
and guest speakers to illustrate the planned thrust of the
course (Attachment A).
4. The selection of reading materials for ISF is still
in an early stage. The annotated preliminary list of case
studies and commentaries by veteran practitioners and
outside critics provides a general view of the range of
materials under consideration for the course (Attachment B).
5. Subject to final approval, I plan to offer the
course in January and April 1984--to test its effectiveness
in achieving your objectives. In response to the DDI's
recommendation, I am also incorporating the essence of ISF,
as a two-hour unit, in other OTE courses. This already has
been done for the current running of the Analysis Training
Course (DI Career Trainees), the New Analyst Course
(recently-hired DI analysts), and Introduction to the DI (DO
Career Trainees). Additionally, I will, in May 1984,
prepare a memorandum for you and the DDI on the implications
for management and training of my research findings and
instructional experience regarding intelligence successes
and failures. The final goal is to fine tune the ISF course
and the two-hour unit for regular presentation by OTE
starting in July 1984.
Attachments:
As Stated
Distribution:
Orig - Addressee, w/atts
1 - DDCI, w/atts
1 - ExDir, w/atts
1 - Exec. Reg. w/o atts
I - DDI, w/atts
t-t' - DDA, w/atts