Intelligence management development program
Graduate Certificate in Applied Management
Excellence in intelligence management—executive level development
Developing future leaders
We are dealing with an extremely challenging and rapidly evolving criminal environment. Staying a step ahead depends on clear strategy and strong leadership.
One of the keys to this is effectively integrating intelligence into all levels of decision making.
The Intelligence Management Development Program (IMDP) is developing a pool of leaders with capability in intelligence-led policing.
The program is sponsored by the AFP Leadership in Criminal Intelligence Program and jointly developed with the Australian Institute of Police Management.
Participants develop strategic thinking, conceptual and analytical skills and gain a sound knowledge of management, public policy and public administration—within a highly contextualised criminal intelligence framework. Participation by both intelligence and operational staff encourages the free exchange of ideas and leads to cooperative working relationships.
The Australasian Crime Commissioner's Forum has recognised the IMDP as ‘the peak intelligence management training program for Australasian Police agencies’.
Who is IMDP for?
The IMDP is open to all members of Australasian police services, public safety, emergency services and other related agencies with integrated intelligence units. The continuing internationalising of this program is seeing increased participation by regional and overseas jurisdictions.
The IMDP recognises the importance of intelligence to effective strategic, operational and tactical level decision-making. The aim is to integrate intelligence doctrine and application into law enforcement management.
As a result, the IMDP is for:
- intelligence managers
- intelligence practitioners
- law enforcement managers with broader responsibilities including intelligence assets
- operational police managers.
What level of commitment is required?
The program is usually completed over six to nine months. It involves four subjects delivered through a mix of residential and distance education.
Distance education
You initially undertake two subjects through part-time distance education. The subjects, Foundations of Strategic Management and Contemporary Issues in Intelligence Management involve a total of 256 hours (128 hours each). The distance education component is delivered online and includes access to a Resource Centre to assist with your research and writing skills.
Residential component
The remaining two subjects are delivered through an intensive residential component on campus at the Australian Institute of Police Management in Manly, Sydney. The three-week residential component includes lectures, discussions, workshops and group work. It covers Strategic Planning and Performance Management and Leadership and Organisational Change. Some evening and weekend work is required to complete this part of the program. It involves a total of 256 hours which may be delivered as a continuous three-week residential or two separate residentials (two weeks and then one week).
What topics are covered?
You examine intelligence best practice, including analysing leading-edge developments in areas such as:
- integrating intelligence into the management process
- applying conventional intelligence methods to transnational crime and counter terrorism
- the intelligence/policy relationship
- ethical issues in managing intelligence.
Specifically, the four subject areas are:
- Foundations of Strategic Management—covers management and strategic planning theory and contemporary approaches to service delivery and quality management. You examine your organisation and the extent to which management theory and sound practice are used to produce outcomes.
- Contemporary Issues in Intelligence Management—covers issues such as responsibility and ethical considerations, relationships between industry organisations and the community, and legal and social arrangements between government, policing and emergency services, with a particular emphasis on intelligence. You have the opportunity to define, refine and articulate a contemporary issue within intelligence.
- Strategic Planning and Performance Management—covers issues such as managing for outcomes, strengthening accountability, performance planning (and measurement), strategic planning, generic decision making and strategic (corporate) problem solving. You are encouraged to take a systems view of organisations, and understand the link between strategic planning and performance management.
- Leadership and Organisational Change—examines the roles of leaders in contemporary organisations, analysing the skills and attributes of effective leaders. You develop skills in communication, case study analysis, self-awareness and public speaking. There is a focus on future challenges, with leadership analysis viewed in light of significant issues affecting the industry over the next 10 years.
What are the admission requirements?
- Academic requirements—you need to possess academic qualifications one level below the IDMP Graduate Certificate (e.g. an under graduate qualification such as a Bachelor degree). Alternatively, suitable work experience can be sufficient to qualify for entry.
- Industry requirements/nomination—many jurisdictions and agencies, including the AFP, use this program as part of their executive development process. To be considered, you need to be nominated by your agency or in the case of overseas candidates, nominated by your government.
What are the assessable components?
Australian Institute of Police Management courses are designed to provide management and leadership development. As a result, assessment is only one aspect of the experience.
The assessment component for the IMDP is based on a combination of papers, presentations and participation in debates and group work:
- Foundations of Strategic Management—three essays (1 500, 2 000 and 2 500 words)
- Contemporary Issues in Intelligence Management—15 minute oral presentation (delivered during residential component) and a 3 000 word paper
- Strategic Planning and Performance Management—business plan as both a 15 minute oral presentation and a 2 500 word paper
- Leadership and Organisational Change—debates, 15 minute oral presentation, 3 000 word paper, and syndicate and classroom participation.
Your work is assessed by qualified professionals. The assessment process is academically rigorous and individualised to provide you with effective advice and guidance across a range of academic indicators and professional capabilities.
All assessments are linked to the course learning outcomes and course objectives.
What are the learning outcomes?
You develop increased knowledge, skills and confidence to manage at senior organisational levels. By participating in the IMDP, you will develop the capacity to:
- analyse complex problems and deal with advanced management tasks
- participate in executive-level decision making
- establish parameters for judging the effectiveness of corporate processes and performance outcomes
- implement corporate improvement strategies
- develop quality control standards and strategies
- develop and implement strategic goals and plans
- provide leadership and direction for others
- model an ethical approach to decision making.
What is the qualification received?
When you successfully complete the Intelligence Management Development Program you are awarded a Graduate Certificate in Intelligence Management.
After graduating, you are encouraged to take on additional management experience to assimilate the knowledge and skills gained during the Graduate Certificate, broaden your understanding of policy challenges facing your organisations and give you time to reflect on your management and leadership practices. You may then like to consider further study to obtain a Graduate Diploma through the Australian Institute of Police Management Intelligence Executive Leadership Program.
What is the program’s accreditation?
Both the Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are accredited under the New South Wales Higher Education Act 2001.
About the AFP Leadership in Criminal Intelligence Program
The AFP Leadership in Criminal Intelligence Program is creating an international centre of excellence in criminal intelligence. The program is strengthening intelligence management by identifying, developing and implementing best practice in intelligence.
The Leadership in Criminal Intelligence Program maintains close support and involvement with the IMDP. This includes ongoing review and development of the curriculum.
For example, themes for study stem from international, high-level Leadership in Criminal Intelligence Program symposiums which explore topical issues in criminal intelligence.
About the Australian Institute of Police Management
The Australian Institute of Police Management is administered by the AFP and is responsible to the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management.
The Institute facilitates the academic and professional development of senior police officers and acts as a catalyst for the growth of a highly effective network of senior policing professionals in the region.
Each year, the Institute provides a series of academic and professional development programs in leadership and management. The two core academic courses are the Graduate Diploma in Executive Leadership and the Graduate Certificate in Applied Management.
The IMDP is a tailored and highly targeted program which builds on core components of the Graduate Certificate in Applied Management.
The Institute is at the Former School of Artillery, North Head, Manly, surrounded by the Sydney Harbour National Park.