Confused about intuition, imagination, insight, and all the other "I-words"? Well, enough of that. The differences do matter, and you don't need a PhD or McKinsey to sort it out.

1. Beyond Observation:
The Six “I’s” of Intelligence
An archestra notebook.
© 2014 Malcolm Ryder / archestra research

2. Assumptions:
Although automation and design “simplify” our ability to have interesting
experiences, complexity is on the rise underneath every elevation and
integration of experience.
Because of complexity, opportunities to predict, exploit, control, and repair
things are more and more reliant on the ability to collect and use
information.
“Intelligence” is the activity that proactively acquires, organizes and applies
information. An “intelligent” party is known as such due to its continual
exercise of, and/or immediate access to, intelligence.
The desire to explain that exercise and access has generated a cloud of
popular terms around intelligence. But their popularity often devolves them
into being merely “signs of” intelligence instead of distinctive descriptions
about intelligence helping to cultivate it.

3. Intelligence is an active state
An “intelligent” party is known as such
due to its continual exercise of, and/or
immediate access to, intelligence –
especially beyond mere observation and
memory.
The desire to explain that exercise and
access has generated a cloud of terms
around intelligence.
But due to popularity, the use of those
terms often blurs into being merely “signs
of” intelligence instead of being distinctive
descriptions about intelligence helping to
cultivate it.
imagination
intelligence

4. Points of Origin
Information acquisition does
not just “add up” to
intelligence.
While information is super-
abundant, we look for
intelligence to be special or
exceptional.
But the true distinction of
Intelligence is not “scarcity”…
instead, it is seen in working
on information.
information
Intelligence
SOURCES
Beyond Observation --
the six “I’s” of Intelligence:
where it gets its information
The 3 dimensions
of Intelligence work
© 2014 Malcolm Ryder / archestra research

5.  Intuition  Insight
A priori understanding or recognition,
based on info brought to the
circumstance from prior circumstances
Post-facto understanding or recognition,
based on info brought by the current
circumstance
 Instinct  Inspiration
A decision directed in real-time by an
intuition
A decision directed in real-time by a
suggestion
 Introspection  Imagination
Active perception of a virtual construct,
based on surveying of intuitions and tacit
information
Active conception of a virtual construct,
based on arrangements of insight and
INTRINSIC EXTRINSIC
INTENTION
DISCOVERY
AWARENESS
The 6 “I’s” of Intelligence
© 2014 Malcolm Ryder / archestra research

6. Relatively speaking…
Because I had this intuition, it gave me an insight that inspired my introspection,
which led to my imagination about how things were probably going to be;
and I had the instinct to act on that…
© 2014 Malcolm Ryder / archestra research

7. But what about…
If “Intelligence” is the activity that proactively acquires, organizes and applies
information, then what is Analysis?
Analysis is an investigative technique that leads to discovery. Because
analysis can investigate information, any source of information can provide
inputs to analysis.
All activities of intelligence can make information available that had not
been available before. Different kinds of information then may call for
different kinds of analyses.
Primarily, analysis identifies what elements or components constitute a given
item, and how they most likely manage to constitute it. Those identities and
relationships are information produced by the investigation, as contributions
to discovery.

8. And what about…
If “Intelligence” is the activity that proactively acquires, organizes and applies
information, then what is Knowledge?
Knowledge is a class of information within a pre-designated context. Because
knowledge classifies information, the information can be systematically recalled
along with attributes directing its interpretation and associative intent. The context
is a “parent” of the classification
All activities of intelligence can make information available that had not been
available before. Different kinds of information then may be contextualized as
different kinds of knowledge – and the same kind of information given to two
different contexts can become two different kinds of knowledge.
Primarily, knowledge identifies what information is relevant to a given context or
purpose, and what kind of relevance is currently validated and prescribed. Those
validations and prescriptions are information produced by the research, as
contributions to discovery.

9. © 2014 Malcolm Ryder / archestra research
mryder@malcolmryder.com