Annex 4 - Principles of analytic integrity - DIO

What analytic integrity at DIO is…

Assessments are:
- focused in accordance with DIO’s mandate.
- made objectively
- reflect careful and thorough consideration of all sources of information
- not influenced by improper external (outside DIO) pressure/direction, and
- reviewed routinely in the light of new information and to learn lessons.
Analysts exercise and develop high level skills:
- in source analysis
- in assessing what is or isn’t supported by available information
- constructively questioning other analysts’ work, with debates ideas driven and not personality based, and
- having intellectual courage.
The culture promotes independent thinking
- Managers promote openness and sharing, a sense of shared purpose and teamwork, consultation, professionalism and impartiality.
- The organisation fosters and develops high quality intelligence analysis that adequately accounts for cognitive bias and complexity.
- Analysts are able to express dissent, during the drafting process, from the prevailing view in the organisation without detriment to career aspirations.

Assessments are not:
- outside DIO’s mandate
- biased towards the organisation’s or stakeholders desired judgments rather than being objective in their own right
- based on only that information that supports a pre-determined or earlier argument/position, or
- based on the passive acceptance of information.
Analysts who:
- rely on the status quo; not revisiting judgments when there is new information
- stretch or ‘cherry-pick’ information to fit particular views
- ignore gaps or limitations in available information, or
- overly qualify judgments.
The culture stifles debate and dissent
- Intolerance of different views; groupthink.
- Analysts are punished directly or indirectly for expressing contra-views.