14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The perfect book for the perfect time, March 21, 2002
This review is from: The Warning Solution : Intelligent Analysis in the Age of Information Overload (Hardcover)
The perfect book for the perfect time. The Warning Solution is a book divided in two parts that provides intelligence professionals and researchers essential tools to be employed in today's information saturated environment. This book is about teaching people how to find needed information in a timely and effective manner in order to develop, or support, a decision making process.
Divided in two parts the book first identifies, in a very succinct and effective manner, current problems (The Warning Problem) in handling massive amounts of information from several different perspectives. Those perspectives are from the points of view of a collector of data, an analyst and a decision maker.
The second part of the book focuses on the "Warning Solution" by providing one critical thinking strategies; elements of analysis and how to analyze; and finally how to develop, staff and run an effective intelligence section within your organization.
The fact the book teaches you how to analyze data and develop information into intelligence "walks the walk" in an easy to use guide of ONLY 89 pages holds true to the intelligence concept of providing usable intelligence is a timely, concise and pertinent manner.
An excellent side note about this book, is that a very blunt and honest description of fundamental intelligence capabilities and operations is provided to the user of intelligence and intelligence related information. In other words, the unit commanders, organization leaders and key decision makers are candidly explained what makes up a good intelligence organization; who's responsible for the efficient production and quality of intelligence; and, how to develop assess the effectiveness of your unit's intelligence section.
This book focuses on the basics, but also addresses advanced analytical concepts for beginners or experts alike. This is a must read.
I've served, and continue to serve, in the intelligence community for a number of years now. Supported intelligence operations throughout several areas of the world. I skim and read through over four thousand email messages, alone, monthly. I cannot recommend a better book to keep my mind focused on my mission to provide decision makers the information they need to benefit our organization.
GySgt X, USMC, Intelligence Plans Chief/ Asst. Intelligence Operations Chief
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Too Much of a Good Thing, May 7, 2003
This review is from: The Warning Solution : Intelligent Analysis in the Age of Information Overload (Hardcover)
While the subject matter is as important and noteworthy as other reviewers have stated, Mr. Wheaton's prose rambles with much repition and glib remarks passed off as wisdom. The book showcases the depth of the author's experience in the Balkans, but the one case study where he deviates from this theme, the debacle surrounding Intel's initial Pentium CPU chip release, is shallow and appears to be written with no input from people who were directly involved.
The biggest problem behind this book is its size and format. No one but those who all ready agree with the principals and practice intelligence analysis will ever bother to pick up this book. The author would have done better to either:
a. cut out the fluff and write a tight essay/article that could have been presented in magazines read by executives, or
b. gather together multiple authors with various professional backgrounds to build a more complete, in-depth text book with many more examples and practical exercises to be used by business colleges and military academies.
AFCEA International Press also did Mr. Wheaton no favors by producing one of the most poorly proofread books I have ever read.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intelligence for Dummies, January 28, 2002
This review is from: The Warning Solution : Intelligent Analysis in the Age of Information Overload (Hardcover)
Finished the book this weekend. I liked it. The analysis on analysis was spot on. I use many of the techniques outlined in the book myself in analysis of engineering and business
problems. When I was reading the book I had an immediate reaction that the book cover should have been yellow with a black stripe and entitled "Intelligence Analysis for Dummies"
A second reation was that the book reminded me somewhat of Machiavelli's "The Prince." Like Machiavelli, the subject matter is presented in blunt, clear language. You don't have to be a Rhodes Scholar to understand this text. In it you find a blue print to run a modern intelligence operation much like "The Prince" was a blue print on how to run a 16th Century Italian State. There is a full listing of pitfalls to avoid, and opportunities not to overlook. Finally, itt is also a blue print on how to make effective decisions on the basis of intelligence. I am sure most readers will agree that once your get past the politics and BS, statesmanship is nothing more than effective decision making. This book tells the decision maker exactly what to expect from his intelligence and analysis people, and what his responsibilites are in making the correct decision. I am sorry to say this book is not going to make the author many friends in the current intelligence and military command structure. One of the main lessons I learned in my government work is that A. No one likes a smartass, and B no one will tolerate a smartass if he is right most of the
time.
In any event I liked the book...It is my hope that people who make these type of decisions that govern our lives reads this book and learn from it (although I rather doubt it).
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
