Controlling the Intelligence Collection Process

Good intelligence results from an effective working relationship between intelligence users and intelligence gatherers, be they an internal department or an external agency. Each partner in the relationship must contribute the knowledge and skill that they derive from their respective backgrounds in order to get the most from the intelligence budget. Although it may be tempting to users to let the intelligence gatherers work to the brief and implement the project without interaction (or interfering), this can result in the outcome being less satisfactory. This is truest when working with outside intelligence agencies who are not party to the working culture within the commissioning company and do not have automatic or ready access to internally available intelligence.