Corporate Security Intelligence and Strategic Decision Making

Chapter 7

Intelligence Collection

War is the realm of uncertainty; three quarters of the factors on which action in war is based are wrapped in a fog of greater or lesser uncertainty. A sensitive and discriminating judgment is called for; a skilled intelligence to scent out the truth.

Von Clausewitz, On War

Chapter Objectives

1. To examine the theoretical underpinnings behind collection activities.
2. To illustrate the drivers for the practice and management of collection.
3. To explain and discuss the different types of sources in the commercial environment.
4. To talk about the validation of information once collected.

Introduction

Following the Direction stage of the intelligence cycle, Collection is the stage at which relevant data and information ...