Establishing a New Paradigm of Collaboration

New digital technologies are opening the door to establishing of a new paradigm of collaboration for producing and delivering intelligence analysis to decision makers. With the use of web-based wikis, analysts can draft articles jointly, blurring the lines between all-source analysts, collectors, and even decision makers. Access to drafts and finished products can be defined at several levels by varying who is given the authority to “read” or “write” in the document. Key supplemental information can be presented through pop-ups, side bars, or hyperlinks. This would allow the reader to focus on what is most important, including the use of structured analytic techniques. Avatar-based collaboration platforms would also facilitate greater interaction and collaboration, allowing analysts to coordinate and brief their papers without ever leaving their desks.