What characteristic is essential for analytic products, according to the analytic standards?

Timeliness is a critical characteristic for analytic products because it ensures that the information provided is relevant and actionable within a specific timeframe. In the context of intelligence and analysis, the ability to deliver insights promptly can significantly impact decision-making processes, especially in scenarios where immediate responses are necessary. An analysis that is not timely may lose its relevance and fail to influence outcomes effectively, rendering the insights less valuable to decision-makers. Timeliness is especially crucial in defense and security contexts, where situations can evolve rapidly, and staying ahead with current information can make a substantial difference.

While factors like cost-effectiveness, ease of understanding, and popularity among peers are important in specific contexts, they do not have the same immediate impact on the urgency and relevance of the analytic product itself. An analysis can be clear and well-received but still fall flat if it arrives too late to be useful. Thus, timeliness stands out as the essential attribute.