TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR A STUDY OF POSSIBLE EDPM APPLICATION IN THE DD/I AREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP62-00680R000100230001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 8, 1998
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: July 9, 1959
• Content Type: STUDY

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D CRAG 9/1-59
9 July 1959
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE A G E N C Y
CENTRAL RUERE1JCE ADVISOHr CROUP
Terms of Reference for a Stu of Possible
~ ~ ~ I ~i el ea
to I~s- ~oee-, The purpose of these ter= of reference is to provide
guidance in the conduct of studies for judging what advantages, if anys
would result from the use of electronic data processing machines (E1)PM)
for particular operations in the DD/I area.
2. Bach. The application of EDPM and related techniques is
very costly and dwaands considerable preliminary planning. This is only
a first step designed to establish general requirements. Later phases
include a feasibility study, applications study, pre-installation programmingg
personnel selection and training, site preparations, equipment innta1lati.ong
systems conversion,, and final staffing. Ubet eer or not a detailed feasi-
bility study is made before a computer app1.tcation is approved, the
equivalent of such a study must ultimately be made, The current study
should in any case be in sufficient detail to ascertain the need for
comp iter services in the I)I)/I area*
3, Identification of Areas to be Studied. In a general way responei-
ble officials in the 11)/I area have developed a tentative awareness of
possible EDPM applications. Knowledge of the nature of our problems and
of the present use of mechanical-electrical machines have led to an
appreciation of the advantages which 'EDPM can provide in solving data
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processing problems, This awareness is essential, The important next
step is the selection of specific areas to be studied for potential
application.
!i. Purpose of Application. In identifying areas of possible EDPM
application, the benefits to be sought should be firmly in minds
(a) Greater accuracy and more timely data.
(b) Greater relatability among data.
(c) Potential for expansion.
(d) Needed data not available before.
(e) Econoar (of time, manpower, apace or money).
A real need for all or some of the above should be demonstrable in arq
particular application. It is usually not enough to want a computer
because it can do things faster,
5. General Criteria for Selection of Areas for Stucily. Eventually,
total annual costs under present operating conditions will have to be
compared with estimated annual costs under a system employing a computer
complex. We therefore want to identify areas where mechanization may be
helpful, and not be out of the question cost rise. You should look for
the followings
(a) Operations which are already mechanized in part,
(b) Large volumes of repetitive clerical operations.
(c) Frequent reference to master files in different
locations marry of which contain duplicate informs-
tion.
(d) Receipt of information on a continuing bases which
requires updating, especially when performed at
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different locatioasa
(e) Assembly and reduction of data frasl various sources
for such asrisation, comparison, or evaluation,
(f) Desirability of performing an operation not now performed
because of exicessive time or costa
(g) Need for immediate access to documents frequently or for
providing answers from large files,
6a Indicated Functional Areas of Interests The considerations ou
lined above point to several areas which should be investigated,
Mechanical translation
AX1 134d
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Radio stations frequency data
Document dissemination
Document indexing
Name indexing
- Early warning indicators
Document abstracting
- Economic matrix analysis
? Processing biographic, industrial and graphic records
Correlation of fragmentary information on selected
targets (e.g. guided missile installations)
70 Procedural Approach, Basic to this study of the areas selected
is a clear description of:
- What information you have to start with; and,
What result must be achieved,
Statistics will be needed on forms and quantities of information, the
changes made in it, rates at which changes are made, processing deadlines,
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 U4&2'-006-80ROO014630601-
time spent in preparation of inputs to existing systems, time spent to
produce outputs, and. the liken In short, findings will need supporting,
evidence, and evidence can only be acquired by the collection and analysis
of data relevant to the problem at hand.
8. Suggested Outline for Data Collection.
Organisational component
Functional area studied
- Statement of desired result
Description of present operation
Source of data coming in
Form of data coming in
o Volume involved
o Processing of data
a Form of data going out
o Lisposal of data going out
. Manpower and equipment involved
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