IA  Intelligence Analyst(IA)



midcareer Role(s)

Intelligence Analyst





A Day in the Life of an Intelligence Analyst

  • Question Identification: Kari starts her day by identifying a relevant question based on customer needs or her own curiosity. She spends time refining and clarifying the question to ensure its relevance and precision.
  • Information Gathering: Kari searches through historical documents to check if the question has been answered before or to gather useful information that may aid in her analysis. This process helps her establish a foundation for her investigation.
  • Compliant Data Analysis: Kari develops a hypothesis and identifies the appropriate queries and datasets for her investigation. She ensures that her queries are legally compliant by conducting a series of checks before running them.
  • Data Analysis and Triage: Kari analyzes the results from her queries, looking for information that answers her question. She sorts and filters the data to identify baselines, trends, anomalies, and correlations. During this process, she generates and tests multiple hypotheses rapidly.
  • Documentation and Reporting: Kari stores relevant findings in personal files or corporate tools, depending on their level of importance. She conducts a deeper analysis on the data, investigates leads, and follows reporting guidelines to prepare her final report or answer the initial question.
  • midcareer


    Challenges & Barriers

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    Data Management

    Struggling to prioritize relevant information, and handle large datasets and unstructured data.

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    Analytical Techniques

    Difficulties in implementing effective analysis methods and problem-solving strategies.

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    Workflow Complexity

    Hindered by complicated compliance processes, limited automation, and unnecessary steps in the analytical workflow.

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    Inefficient Tool Selection

    Overwhelmed by choosing appropriate tools for tasks, time-consuming documentation, and visualization limitations.



    Design Artifacts

    Graphic Design graduate students from NC State University College of Design created these artifacts as part of their 2023 Design Studio deliverables.


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    Analyst Journey

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    Analyst Pain Points



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    SCOPE (a high-fidelity UI/UX prototype created based on Kari’s daily tasks)

    Graphic Design graduate students from NC State University College of Design created this prototype as part of their 2021 Design Studio deliverables.