Able Archer Case Study

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Due to the unique nature of the intelligence field, error of judgments can (and has) had catastrophic consequences. These errors are a result of complex decision making processes involved in the generation of intelligence products, affected by not only training and expertise, but by cognitive factors, particularly bias. The aim of this paper is to identify two different models of decision making (bounded rationality and intuitive decision making), the biases found in both models that affect the final intelligence product, and how these biases can be mitigated in order to avoid intelligence failures or minimise their impact. Intelligence analysts face complex problems, usually involving incomplete and ambiguous information, often under pressing time …show more content…

Representation bias is where individuals compare the similarity of a current situation to previous situations, and assesses the likelihood of potential consequences. The more similar the situations are to each other, the more similar the consequences and their impact are likely to be. As Able Archer was a routine operation, US analysts believed that the Soviets would continue with their usual response of solely monitoring the operation. However, this was clearly not the case due to the depth of the Soviet fear, and even when presented with evidence that the Soviets were readying their air forces, the Reagan administration dismissed the reaction. As US officials believed that Soviet perceptions, intentions and actions during previous Able Archer exercises were the same as the 1983 operation, and that the outcomes would also be the same, US intelligence fell into the trap of representation bias, and failed to appropriately interpret the intelligence products highlighting the danger of the new

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