IRM and CM is Dead… Long Live IDDI

"The art of war is the art of decision-making." – Carl von Clausewitz.

For decades, Intelligence Requirements Management (IRM) and Collection Management (CM) have been the twin pillars of military intelligence operations. They promised order in the chaos of war, offering structured processes to identify, prioritize, and collect intelligence. But today, they’re not just outdated—they’re obstacles. IRM and CM, as we know them, are dead. It’s time to embrace something better: Integrated Decision-Driven Intelligence (IDDI).

Let’s be clear. The death of IRM and CM isn’t a tragedy—it’s an opportunity. They were built for an era of deliberate, linear warfare. The battlefield was simpler, the threats more predictable, and the domains fewer. That world no longer exists.

Why IRM and CM No Longer Work

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: IRM and CM are too slow.

In an age of hybrid warfare, multi-domain battles, and decisions made in seconds, the traditional ISR processes are like trying to navigate with a paper map in a world of GPS. IRM spends valuable time breaking down intelligence needs into smaller, manageable parts. CM then tries to figure out how to collect them. By the time actionable intelligence reaches the decision-maker, the battlefield has changed—or worse, the opportunity is gone.

In my experience, during operations, the tasking cycle for ISR assets lagged behind the tempo of operations... by hours. That’s hours of lost initiative. Hours of adversaries maneuvering freely. Hours of commanders waiting for insights.

And that’s not all. IRM and CM think in silos. Intelligence is broken down into domain-specific Essential Elements of Information (EEIs). Cyber here. Land there. Space over there. But modern warfare isn’t siloed. It’s interconnected, fast, and relentless. A cyber attack can cripple logistics. Air superiority can be undermined by space-based threats. Intelligence can’t be broken into neat boxes anymore.

Enter Integrated Decision-Driven Intelligence (IDDI)

If IRM and CM are dead, what replaces them? Enter IDDI.

IDDI is bold. It’s fast. It’s exactly what the contemporary battlefield demands. Instead of prioritizing intelligence collection for the sake of data, IDDI focuses on one thing: enabling decisions. Everything starts and ends with operational outcomes.

Here’s how IDDI changes the game:

• Decisions First: IDDI doesn’t ask, “What data do we need?” It asks, “What decisions do we need to make?” Intelligence efforts are shaped around enabling those decisions.
• Dynamic Tasking: Forget static collection plans. IDDI uses AI and real-time analysis to dynamically adjust ISR priorities as situations evolve.
• Cross-Domain Integration: Intelligence isn’t funneled into single-domain pipelines. Instead, data from all domains—land, sea, air, space, cyber—is fused into a unified operational picture. One team. One view. One purpose.
• Shift from static TCPED to a continuous cycle of Sense, Decide, Act, Learn (SDAL).

Think of IDDI like a Formula 1 pit crew. Every sensor, every analyst, every decision-maker works together in perfect synchronization, reacting to real-time changes on the battlefield.

What IDDI Looks Like in Practice

Let’s break this down with a practical example.

Imagine you’re tracking an adversary’s logistics hub. Under IRM and CM, you might:

1. Define an IR for locating enemy supply convoys.
2. Task an ISR platform (like a drone or satellite) to gather imagery.
3. Wait for the data to be processed and analyzed.

Meanwhile, those convoys have already moved.

IDDI flips the script:

1. Start with the decision: “Do we strike or disrupt?”
2. Dynamically pull intelligence from persistent ISR platforms already collecting data across domains.
3. Fuse imagery, signals, and cyber intelligence in real time to provide a recommendation.

Now the commander has actionable intelligence, not just raw data. And they have it when it matters most: now.

The Debate We Need

Of course, IDDI won’t arrive without resistance. Legacy systems are entrenched. Commanders trust the IRM/CM model because it’s familiar. But let’s face it: familiarity is the enemy of progress.

Critics might argue that IDDI is too reliant on technology. They’ll say it’s risky to move so fast, or that centralized decision-making ensures accountability. But what’s riskier: trusting outdated processes that are slow and siloed, or building a system designed for the speed of modern warfare?

Actionable Steps for the Transition

1. Pilot IDDI Models: Integrate IDDI into exercises to demonstrate its effectiveness in real-time decision-making.
2. Invest in Technology: AI-driven analytics, federated data lakes, and edge computing are the backbone of IDDI.
3. Shift the Culture: Educate commanders on the advantages of decision-driven intelligence. Train analysts to think in terms of effects, not just collection.

The Final Word

The battlefield has evolved. So must we. IRM and CM served their purpose, but clinging to them now is like fighting modern wars with Napoleonic tactics. It’s time for a new paradigm.

Integrated Decision-Driven Intelligence isn’t the future—it’s the present we need to embrace. IRM and CM is dead. Long live IDDI.

Let’s talk about it. Is your organization ready to make the leap? If not, why not? Let the debate begin