Developing Managers of Analysts: The Key to Retaining Analytic Expertise

Gordon focuses on how to retain analytic expertise at the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Directorate of Analysis (DA) and the importance of first-line supervisors to retaining the best analysts and thus improving intelligence analysis outcomes. Attrition in the DA is an ever-present challe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of intelligence and counterintelligence 2018-10, Vol.31 (4), p.745-757
Main Author: Gordon, Donald K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attrition
Government agencies
Government executives
Intellectuals
Intelligence (information)
Intelligence gathering
Journalists
Mathematical analysis
Military intelligence
Policy making
Political science
Retention
Social classes
Supervisors
Training
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Summary:Gordon focuses on how to retain analytic expertise at the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) Directorate of Analysis (DA) and the importance of first-line supervisors to retaining the best analysts and thus improving intelligence analysis outcomes. Attrition in the DA is an ever-present challenge because the top officers in the organization in 2030 and 2040 are likely to already be working at the CIA. The DA requires an expert, motivated workforce to remain a world class analytic organization; high attrition rates weaken an organization's pool of expertise and undercut its ability to accomplish its mission. The Directorate's expertise allows it to compete and stand out among "other intelligence agencies, journalists, scholars, lobbyists, and other purveyors of information" to policymakers. The DA, by accepting the argument that additional manager training is likely to mitigate its potential attrition crisis, could look to emulate the successful training programs run in other government agencies and the corporate world.
ISSN:0885-0607
1521-0561
DOI:10.1080/08850607.2018.1488502