W. Elm, S. Potter of ManTech/Aegis CSEC with D. Woods of OSU have developed a framework of what is support for intelligence analysis.

The basic insight is that success in analysis work is a process of convergence, while the risk is premature narrowing. The diference is that convergence alternates narrowing processes in cognitive work with broadening processes. The framework has 3 generic processes -- down collect that identifies potential relevant source material, conflict and corroboration that develops a set of findings to be explained, and hypothesis exploration that develops a coherent explanatory story that accounts for the findings. In between the support functions for these processes are phases of broadening checks (see entry on Study of Analysts under Data Overload for one set of supporting evidence). Successive cycles of narrowing and broadening produce convergence and avoid premature narrowing.

The framework of support functions is illustrated in these animations produced by A. Roesler (28 Megs and 11 Megs respectively):