ERA PROCEDURES FOR READING PANEL REQUIREMENTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP61S00527A000100150068-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 1, 2000
• Sequence Number: 68
• Publication Date: April 27, 1955
• Content Type: REQ

Approved ForStAease 2001/08/17 : CIA-RDP61S00527400100150068-7
TO : All Division, Branch, and Staff Chiefs, ERA, ORR
FROM t Chief, ECODOMic Research, ORE
JUOJEM: ERA Procedures for Reading Panel riequirements
DRAFT
=MU=
27 April 1955
1. The filing and periodic updating of intelligible, specific reeding
panel requirements is of . ndamental impo:tance for all branches and staffs
of the ERA. Partly on the basis of these requirements, the inflouing Stream
of information is routed Trcim OCD to ORR, Almost solely on the basis of these
requirements, the requested information is routed to specific branches and
staffs uithin the
2. Each division chief* shell estiblish a gystem for guiding the periodic
reelea and updating of reepectiVe brareh reqyirements for each reading panel.
3, Each division system shall lclude the following features:
a, Annuasatztax. An upelted basic set of requirements for each
adinE panel shall 1-e 7aLIAUed at least once per years preferably
inmediately after anprcrel of Vee branch proeram. At no time shall
a eat of bali.c recdinr )anel requirenents be more than one year
old,
b. Quartalualm. 3tarding reading panel requirements shall
receive routine review at least once per quarter. 7evisions
shall be transmitted l ritine to each readine panel. 'revisions
shall reflect both the increasing sensitivity and kneeledre of
the branch ad the chelgine intelligence targets facre nepropriateo
co Informal ietelizseceedineetion with the readtn7 anelso
Drafts of requirementr shall be coordinated informally with the
resAing panel chiefs lrior to formal trenexal,..ttal in order to insure
the proper balance mol intelligibility to the non-specialist.
T The fiefustrIal especitIly alreacly has demonstrated proficiency along
these lints. (For information only; delete in final form) ?
8.1.21MelIPIRmeivimeem
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(The necessary number of copies can be determined during this
coordination.)*
de Branch briefing for the reading panel. ne ad ing panels shell
be briefed by the branches at least once per year. Discussions
and close liaison should be encouraged. Routing efficiency often
can be increased by properly recognizing the importance of reading
panel mezobers to the intelligence process of each branch.
4. Each branch and staff chief shall have the primary responsibility for
mintaining ccerprehensive, intelligible requirements on file trith each reading
penelo
5. The following points Shall be noted in writing branch requirements:
a. Intelligibility to the non-specialist. Information requirements
in general shall be translated from the technical language and
professional jargon of the sPecific branch into a set of key words,
syMbols, commodity names, and ideas which can be recognized quickly
by the non-specialist on the reading panels. Branch requirements
that are absolutely inclusive and technically perfect to a
specialist may bo beyond the comprehension of members of the
reading penes who mast route large volumes of paper in a
relatively short time.
b. Balance. Information requirements shall have the proper balance
between general orientation and specificity. The determination
of proper balance ultimatelyrnst be made by the readine
co Specificity.
(1) Information requirements shall include:
(a) lists of specific classes of data which can be
recoenized at Alit, such as key comodity names,
raw materials, and trade naves;
(b) careful delineation of the specific branch interest
as opposed to the dovetailine interests of other branches;
Por iitforiation onlr). delete in final form.
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S-E-C-R-E-T
(c) lists of publications (i) specific journals, reportal,
and other publications which are required an a con-
tinuing basis; (ii) publications which are frequent
sources of the required data; (iii) other publications
which might prove fruitful;
(2) Information requirements should avoid varur concepts are
abstractions which cannot be relete0 quickly to the daa
on incoming documents by the panel members.
d. Inclusiveness. Information requirements shall include all (flata
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which are significant to the mission and functions of the branch
Branches shall consider feasibility and past availability of date
and shall request also the specific indirect data which facilitans
estimation of important data not usually directly available.
e. Ecozmo Information requirements shall be revised to discentin!e
the routing of worthless information which results in a costly
waste of branch manpower. Care must be taken not to discontinue
the routing of information which is 2522,2Eti.2,112.z Tory valuable
when knowledge and methods become cumulatively rore refined.
Critical judgment and perceptive analysis of the intelligence
targets are of obvious importance in the selection of information,
A. Readine panel requirements* shall be -written in the following riniman
format:
a, 'lesion and functions of the branch.
b. Areas of interest.
Subdivide into primary and secondary if eppropniate.
Include both geographical areas and commodity yields as approp .1 a?,
Allert attention to transshipment points outside the Sino-Soviez
Bloc which serve as channels for illegal trade?
Ow. W.I.....
riEVErTgge elements appear in es-dsting branch requirements, especially
those for I/bE. Attention is invited to this requircient which in many
respects is a model for balance, clarity,1, and inoluoiveneso. (Tor Infro?,L.11
only; delete in final form.)
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Co To :lea of identification words and synbal.
(This listing shall determine in a large measure Whether
the document under consideration by the reading panel
member is deemed relevant to your branch needs.)*
Include, with appropriate sub-categories, the names of
raw materials, commodities, end-use items, eqnipment,
component parts, trade names, and other categories which
may be useful to the branch.
d. Description of required0
rake descrip Lions as terse as is consistent with clarity.
Include, among other items, thc following:
(1) A high priority request for (a) all Sino-Soviet Bloc
official statistics on the branch interest; (b) a retention
copy (copies) of econory-wide plan and plan fulfillment ro...
leases for Bib-Soviet Bloc countries.
(2) Appropriate guidance on branch phases of interest such as
types of data on production, consumption, prices, investeeent?
trade, etc.
(3) Delineation of the specific branch interest from the ?'ove-
tailing interest of related branches.
e. Listing of source publications.
(1)
List all specific publications and/or documents regnined
on a continuing basis. (These are in addition to the pro-
fessional journals which branches receive on an annual sub-
scription basis
(2) List specific aublications or doeurents Which frequently
contain data required by the brancle,
(3) List additional types of sources which may prove fertile.
f. Branch ersonnel to be contacted for additional clarification.
g. Other.
(Branches may find it advantageoas to develop a lexicon of aLno-
Soviet country equivalents to the main categories under (c) above).'"
25X1A9a
Chief, Economic Research
Research and eports
For informAion only; delete in final l'Orm
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IMAPIt