PREPARATION OF GAPS IN INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP61-00391R000100090007-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 13, 1998
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: July 19, 1958
• Content Type: MF

n
Approved For Release 2000/08/22 : 1104391R000100090007-4
MEMORANDUM FOR: All Division and Branch Chiefs
7 1::!,r
naPJECT: Preparatiou of Gaps in Information Researenents
1. In a number of instances recently, FAA supervisors and. analysts
who visited Ageacy installationa abroad have reported serious shortcomings
in the system of WOE' collection requirements. Some of the principal
difficulties in servicing our requirements, from the point of view of the
field stations, appear to stem from the multiplicity of unrelated and
uncoordinated requests for inforaation and from the lack of any systematic
organization of our priority requirements for economic information. Another
4ifficulty seems to stem from the fact that the field collectors usually
lack sufficient knowledge of the existing state of our Information concerning
Particular industries or sectors of the various Bloc economies.
2. After a series of discussions on regnirements prablems, it has been
decided tentntively to have all appropriate ERA branches prepare Gaps in
Information Revirements, listing pnialtx_revirements in each major subject
for each country within their field of responsibility. An example of such
a Reqnirement is attached. It is proposed to establish a formal project
to cover the initial preparation of these Requirements etatements,.with an
appropriate allocation of menhours and due dates, and. it is also the intent
that the Reqgiremente should be revised annually, or more often Where
necesaery.
3. Several of these Gaps in Information Respirements have already been
prepared by some ERA. Branches and have been in use for about a year. They
have been given wide distribution and were very well received by field
collectors. Althouen it is recognized that the initial preparation of
these Researements will take considerable time and work, it is hoped that
they will. ultimately reduce the total amount of time that the Branches must
spend in preparing and revising requirements. They should eliminate the
need for the submission of gaps in intelligence reqpirements upon the
completion of specific research projects. They ahould also reduce the
number of individual reqnirements which a Branch will find it necessary to
submit to St/I daring the year, eince all important gRps in information -
would be noted in the Branch's basic set of Gaps in Information Reqnirements.
They should also make it easier for a Branch to prepare reqnirements tailored
to a specific source who has become available and should facilitate the
periodic up-dating of current intelligence reqgirements for inclusion in
the OCI Periodic Regairements Lists (M). Finually, by providing field
collectors with background information and an indication of our priority
needs, the Gaps in Information Revirements should result ultimately, in an
nnprovement in the quality of economic reporting from the field.
1=!11.1104011011108en
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requented to ttrtezi .?
DIstributioa:
1 - ea, Addressee
- CIE
2
St/PIVRIIMbind/2803 (14 Jul 50)
mil?iii11?11?111?1111mi
Approved For Release 2000/08/22 : CIA-RDP61-00391R000100090007-4
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