Strategic
intelligence is the process of collecting, analyzing, and making use of
information or intelligence in order to develop well-informed policy in both
the civilian and military sectors. It has become an important aspect of the
contemporary world to such an extent that it has led to a situation where it
has become indispensable in both the public and private sectors. A result of
this situation is that it has become essential to ensure that there is the
advancement of means through which to advance the use of strategic intelligence
in the achievement of a diversity of goals aimed at enhancing the effectiveness
in government. In this paper, there will be an analysis of the manner through
which strategic intelligence provides value to national policy and decision
makers. This process will be conducted through an assessment of its five main
values mainly its provision of foresight, visioning, system thinking,
motivation, and partnering.
Foresight
is one of the most fundamental values of strategic intelligence because it
allows policy makers to understand the various trends that are prevalent. A result
is that it enables them to either take advantage of them or make contingency
plans aimed at making sure that there is the advancement of national interest.
Under these circumstances, strategic intelligence enables policymakers to
assess every possibility that might come about during the implementation of
policy and in the process come up with means through which they can ensure the
success of these policies.[1]
An example of the foresight aspect of strategic intelligence or what can be
considered its lack is the events following Hurricane Katrina. A consequence of
this situation was that it led to a situation where many lives which could have
been saved were lost because of the lack of foresight from the policymakers of
the federal government. There was a failure to make use of the intelligence
available to make contingency plans to ensure that such a disaster did not
catch all people involved unawares. Therefore, strategic intelligence is
important in helping policymakers develop adequate measures aimed at preventing
the emergence of disastrous situations such as the one mentioned in the example
above.
Another
important aspect of strategic intelligence is that of visioning because it
allows policymakers to visualize an ideal future and work towards its achievement.
This is a process that seeks to ensure that there is the creation of means
through which all stakeholders are engaged towards the achievement of a vision.[2]
It also involves finding out the diverse hurdles that have to be overcome in
order to make the ideal future possible and this is an important process
because it allows policymakers to become more involved with other stakeholders,
especially those who will be directly affected, so that critical decisions can
be made effectively. A result of this situation is that policymakers are able
to create and implement policies that are not only intelligent, but also well
thought out so that they can be able to make the ideal future come into being.
While the eventual outcome might be slightly different from what was originally
conceived, the conception makes it possible for the implementation process to
take place effectively. Visioning also allows for the full support of all
stakeholders to be acquired to such an extent that it becomes an essential part
of the decision-making process.
Furthermore,
strategic intelligence makes it possible for decision makers to come up with
means through which system thinking can be made possible. This is the ability
to bring in a diversity of elements together so that that can be made use of
for the achievement of a common purpose.[3]
When it comes to matters of national interest, this value is vital because it
allows policymakers to look into a large number of avenues through which
national interests can be secured with as little cost as possible to the
taxpayer. Achieving this goal is therefore essential because a common purpose
is retained while at the same time making sure that there is the creation of
sophisticated means through which policies can be developed and implemented.
Moreover, policies having the best effect possible is an integral aspect of
system thinking because there is the involvement of a considerable number of
people as well as agencies which have to work together in order to advance
national interests. There are also lower risks of instances where conflicts of
interest between government agencies can end up marring the implementation of
policies because all agencies involved will have to come to terms with one
another in order to achieve a common goal.
Strategic
intelligence also provides value because it encourages individuals from
different agencies to work together effectively. Motivation is an essential
value, especially when it comes to matters concerning the development and
implementation of national policy. This is because it involves having an
understanding of the motivations of other people as well as countries and
coming up with means through which the national interest will be best
protected. It also becomes possible to encourage individuals directly involved
in policymaking to make sure that they are able to bring about their best
abilities aimed at making sure that they observe and scrutinize the
capabilities of their counterparts in other countries so that they can make
decisions based on this intelligence.[4]
This is especially pertinent when it comes to the development of a military or
diplomatic strategy in order to handle a diverse number of issues that take
place in the international arena. Such a situation often needs policymakers who
have personality intelligence; an ability that ensures that individuals are
able to better understand the motivations of people and make use of this
intelligence to their advantage. Securing a strong national policy needs
motivated people meaning that it is important for them to be constantly encouraged
to undertake their work effectively.
Strategic
intelligence also involves partnering because it is the best means through
which useful alliances can be made. These alliances can be with other
countries, individuals, organizations, or groups whose interests coincide with
those of the nation. A result is that national policy is an ever changing
situation which ensures that there is the advancement of means through which
the interests of the nation are protected. Strategic intelligence makes it
possible for partnerships to become more useful to the nation because
policymakers are forced to engage with others, mostly in the private sector, in
order to come up with ways through which they can achieve the objectives that they
have set.[5]
In addition, it becomes possible for partnerships aimed at achieving specific
objectives to be formed and these can be made use of to further national policy
as well as decision making. The promotion of partnerships that can make use of
strategic intelligence to advance national policy is important because it
allows stakeholders to make informed decisions concerning how they would like
their society to become in future.
In
conclusion, strategic intelligence is important in the advancement of national
policy and decision making. This is especially considering that it is a means
through which to ensure that informed decision making in the formulation of
policy is undertaken. In the discussion above, there has been an analysis of
the manner through which strategic intelligence provides value to national
policy and decision makers. This has been through an assessment of its five
main values, which are its provision of foresight, visioning, system thinking,
motivation, and partnering. Therefore, strategic intelligence adds considerable
value to national policy and decision makers because they are able to use its
various aspects to further national interests.
[1] Joseph Voros, "A Generic Foresight Process Framework," foresight 5, no. 3 (2003): 3.
[2] Ibid., 6.
[3] Jon D Michaels, "All the President's Spies: Private-Public
Intelligence Partnerships in the War on Terror," California Law Review 96, no. 4 (2008): 907.
[4] Ibid., 945.
[5] Jerry H Ratcliffe, Intelligence-Led Policing (Routledge, 2016), 6.
No comments:
Post a Comment