[Purpose/significance] Intelligence Failure (IF) in the data-intelligence era is a significant contributor to the failure of intelligence operations. Therefore, it is of great theoretical and practical significance to study the causes and avoidance strategies of IF in the data-intelligence era. [Method/process] Firstly, the influence of the data-intelli⁃gence era on intelligence operations was discussed and IF in the data-intelligence era was presented. Secondly, the causes of IF in the data-intelligence era were analyzed from multiple perspectives. Finally, a system of avoidance strat⁃egies for IF in the data-intelligence era was constructed and analyzed. [Result/conclusion] The results show that the causes of IF in the data-intelligence era mainly involve various factors at three levels: IF subjects, IF technologies and IF environments. In response to the causes of IF in the data-intelligence era, ten avoidance strategies for IF are pro⁃posed.