Z331/Z555: Strategic Intelligence
Learning Outcomes
Required Books
Christensen, C. M. The Innovator's Dilemma: When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail. New York: HarperBusiness., 2011. ISBN 978-0062060242
Erik J. Dahl. Intelligence and Surprise Attack: Failure and Success from Pearl Harbor to 9/11 and Beyond. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 2013. ISBN 9781589019980
Matthew M. Aid. Intel Wars: The Secret History of the Fight against Terror. New York Bloomsbury Press, 2012 ISBN 978-1608194988
Assignments
Due |
% |
Assignment |
NO MORE THAN |
Sep 16 |
15 |
Compare and contrast Porter’s and Christensen’s ideas about strategy and disruption. |
1000 words |
Oct 12 |
15 |
Where would you go to collect information about terrorists or transnational criminals? Select a specific terrorist or transnational criminal group. Describe how you would go about getting information about them. Provide examples of the information. Be explicit. |
1000 words |
Nov 4 & 9 |
15 |
Student presentations: provide an example of how the U.S. Intelligence Community’s before during and after 9/11 created problems with the U.S. ability to wage war in Afghanistan |
5 minutes |
Dec 14 |
25 |
UNDERGRATES ONLY: Find an example of strategic disruption. Describe why it is strategic and why it is disruptive. |
1500 words |
Dec 14 |
25 |
GRADUATE STUDENTS ONLY: Paper analyzing current world issue demonstrating disruptive and strategic nature of the problem. |
3000 words |
All semester |
15 |
Attendance: be there or have a doctor’s excuse |
|
All semester |
15 |
Participation: be prepared, participation in discussion, or ask questions |
|
|
100 |
TOTAL PERCENTAGE |
|
Schedule of Readings
Date |
Subject |
Readings |
Aug 24 |
Introduction |
None |
Aug 26 |
Strategic Surprise |
In class video Korea Behind the Bamboo Curtain. Secrets of War. The Documedia Group, 1998. |
Aug 31 |
A model of strategy? |
Porter, M.E. (1979) “How competitive forces shape strategy.” Harvard Business Review 57, no. 2 (March-April): 2-57. |
Sep 2 |
What is Disruption? |
Christensen, The Innovator’s Dilemma, Introduction and Chapters 1 & 2 (v-xxxi and 1-63) |
Sep 7 |
LABOR DAY |
NO CLASS, NO READINGS |
Sep 9 |
What is Disruption? |
Christensen, The Innovator’s Dilemma, Chapters 3 through 6 (69-158) |
Sep 14 |
What is Disruption? |
Christensen, The Innovator’s Dilemma, Chapters 7 through 11 (165-261) |
Sep 16 |
Globalized illicit behavior |
Chapter 1, “Deviant Globalization.” Convergence: Illicit Networks and National Security in the Age of Globalization, pp. 3-12, ed. Michael Miklancic and Jacqueline Brewer. National Defense University: Washington, DC, 2013. The link will download the entire book. Read ONLY Chapter 1 for this class. |
Sep 21 |
Global networks |
Chapter 4, “The Illicit Supply Chain.” Convergence: Illicit Networks and National Security in the Age of Globalization, pp. 63-74, ed. Michael Miklancic and Jacqueline Brewer. National Defense University: Washington, DC, 2013. The link will download the entire book. Read ONLY Chapter 4 for this class. |
Sep 23 |
Surprise |
Erik J. Dahl, “Pearl Harbor: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom,” pp. 29-46 |
Sep 28 |
Surprising the enemy |
Erik J. Dahl, “The Battle of Midway: Explaining Intelligence Success,” pp. 47-67 |
Sep 30 |
Surprise despite warning |
Erik J. Dahl, “The East Africa Embassy Bombings: Disaster Despite Warning,” pp. 87-109 |
Oct 5 |
Surprise |
Erik J. Dahl, “New York City: Preventing a Day of Terror,” pp. 110-127 |
Oct 7 |
Explaining surprise |
Erik J. Dahl, “The 9/11 Attacks: A New Explanation,” pp. 128-159 |
Oct 12 |
Fail |
Erik J. Dahl, “Testing the Argument: Why Do Terrorist Plots Fail?” pp. 160-174 |
Oct 14 |
Disfunction and failure |
Matthew M. Aid, “Lipstick on a Pig: Warning Signs in Afghanistan,” pp. 10-38 |
Oct 19 |
Disfunction and failure |
Matthew M. Aid, “Liberty Crossing,” pp. 39-69 |
Oct 21 |
Disfunction and failure |
Matthew M. Aid, “The Sword of Damocles: The Continuing Travails of Afghanistan,” pp. 70-98 |
Oct 26 |
Disfunction and failure |
Matthew M. Aid, “The Root of All Evil: The Pakistani Problem,” pp. 99-125 |
Oct 28 |
Disfunction and failure |
Matthew M. Aid, “We Have to Kill Them All: Scenes from the Global War on Terrorism,” pp. 126-154 |
Nov 2 |
Disfunction and failure |
Matthew M. Aid, “Men of Zeal: Homeland Security and Domestic Terrorism,” pp. 155-184 |
Nov 4 |
Student presentations |
In class student presentations Part of your participation grade is to show up for your classmates’ presentations. This is collegiality and professional courtesy |
Nov 9 |
Student presentations |
In class student presentations Part of your participation grade is to show up for your classmates’ presentations. This is collegiality and professional courtesy |
Nov 11 |
Activism |
Episode 1, “Dreams of Sanctuary,” The New Heroes. PBS, 2005 |
Nov 16 |
Activism |
Episode 2, “Technology of Freedom,” The New Heroes. PBS, 2005 |
Nov 18 |
Activism |
Episode 3, “Power of Enterprise,” The New Heroes. PBS, 2005. |
Nov 23 |
Week of Thanksgiving |
No readings |
Nov 25 |
Week of Thanksgiving |
No readings |
Nov 30 |
Activism |
Episode 4, “Power of Knowledge,” The New Heroes. PBS, 2005. |
Dec 2 |
Security as an afterthought |
Craig Timberg, “Net of Insecurity: A Flaw in the Design.” Washington Post, 30 May 2015 Craig Timberg, “Net of Insecurity: The Long Life of a Quick ‘Fix’.” Washington Post, 31 May 2015 (this one has a video, it’s well done, particularly if you are allergic to technology) |
Dec 7 |
Pearl Harbor |
In class video |
Dec 9 |
LAST CLASS |
Course Review |
Dec 14-18 |
|
FINAL PAPER DUE Monday, Dec 14 |