Sensemaking: A Structure for An Intelligence Revolution

by David T. Moore

Sensemaking diagnoses the ills of the US Intelligence community and provides solutions to its shortcomings. This critical thinking book is among the most available books for government, intelligence, military, and corporate leaders.

230 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 2011

Reviews

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

The foundation of this book is the 1949 Kent-Kendall debate on national intelligence, with the author a proponent of Kendall’s vision. Moore ranges both broad and deep in his discussion of how to improve intelligence, from the concept of ‘wicked problems’, to complexity theory, decision science, macro-vs-micro cognition, and metrics of rigor. Although a true practical ‘structure for an intelligence revolution’ is never really provided, the author offers a great deal of substance to chew on in thinking about the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of intelligence analysis. But I don’t believe his alternative title of ‘sensemaker’ for intelligence analysts will catch on. Although it may be logically correct, it just sounds silly.