What is involved in human source collection?
How do I conduct or manage human source research effectively?
Information professionals know how to research using published sources, but we often stop there, missing out on a universe of available and vital information. As companies and organizations increasingly require high-value, unpublished information in order to remain competitive, information and intelligence from human sources become vital to effective and thorough research practices – and analysis. Through discussions and exercises, participants will learn how to design and manage a holistic and advanced research effort through human and published sources, including: how human source collection complements literature research, how to conduct various types of human source research, maintaining good ethical practices, managing human source collection efforts, and more.
Course Level: Fundamental – Essential concepts, practices, and resources to building intelligence practices.

COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this course, participants will be able to support the Human Source Collection functions of the Intelligence Process, in accordance with the professional competencies outlined by Knowledge inForm. When given an array of intelligence research questions, issues, and problems, participants will be able to fulfill research needs and outline possible solutions to the satisfaction of intelligence team members and users. Specifically, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the purpose, function, and types of human source collection.
2. Describe the relationship between human source collection and other intelligence functions, including published source collection (i.e. literature research).
3. Employ human source collection skills and qualities that are used to generate valuable intelligence.
4. Identify the sources that are used in human source collection.
5. Apply key techniques, practices, resources, and tools for gathering intelligence information.
6. Apply strategies and steps in collecting information and intelligence within multiple industries and settings.
7. Manage the Human Source Collection function and related activities to support intelligence needs and requirements.