Metaphorically Speaking: Cookbook

Mercyhurst College's Department of Intelligence Studies put together the "Analyst's Cookbook," (later post update - the 2nd edition is now available on Kindle). The description states: "You can think of each chapter as a recipe, if you wish."

If we explore the concept of analysis in policing using "cookbook" as a metaphor, we might achieve a more comprehensive of understanding of analysis itself. One of the obstacles to growth in the field is the misunderstandings that occur between analysts. The local level crime tactical crime analyst, the homeland security analyst, the intelligence analyst supporting investigations and prosecutions, the Compstat analyst - all have different missions. 

Many cookbooks are divided into different categories such as appetizers, meats, vegetables, breads , desserts, and beverages. Analysis is divided into different categories depending on the ingredients and the results desired. Just as all the recipes in a specific category of food result in dishes based on the food type, all the work in a specific branch of analysis results in products based on the category of analysis. 

While not all recipes involve cooking per se, food preparation recipes are found in a cookbook. The broad category called cooking contains many various activities and outcomes, with producing edible outcomes as the common denominator. Analysis in policing is one broad category, containing many different types of analysis, dependent on the outcomes desired and the ingredients. 

A good chef can cook all sorts of foods - some become experts in baking or barbecuing but they know there are others things to cook. A good analyst can analyze in a variety of scenarios - yet many analysts don't know that what they are doing is just one part of a larger process that contains many categories. This fact keeps of fragmented and unaware of our potential. It's time to wake up and smell the coffee!

And maybe cook up something new.