MR. COFFEY:

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-04723A000100100001-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 19, 2000
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: November 20, 1970
• Content Type: LETTER

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`2O NOV 197D
25X1A
Mr. Coffey:
I have gone over the attached package which presents the con-
cept of the Data Management Center. To answer the questions
raises on the routing sheet:
"Can we realistically expect to get the kind of
space we think necessary?" --- I don't see how we can
answer this question until the amount of space required
has been quantified. We need to know how much before
we can even begin to think about where it might go and
whether it is realistic.
"How closely must the development of the DMC be
coordinated with other Directorates? Can we continue
to use our existing channels or should we approach this
problem at a higher management level?" -- In theory
there is no reason to coordinate the DMC concept with
the other Directorates. We are designing Support
Systems to satisfy Support Requirements. How we
structure ourselves internally to meet those require-
ments is nobodys business but our own. On the other
hand, when we begin to identify particular pieces of
hardware, terminals, etc. we probably will have to
have the approval of the Information Processing Board.
Prudence suggests that we should keep the Board members
informed of our plans and progress as we go in order to
simplify the Board action when that tine comes. I would
suggest that this be handled through the IPC network.
The concept also needs to be presented to the DDS offices and
they need to accept it. The DMC notion has for them implications of
surrendering control over their operations. For DDS it has implica-
tions of involvement in lower echelon management to a greater degree
than has been 'he custom in the past. I would suggest that it be
presented to the office heads and their deputies in a briefing given
by the SIPS Task Force at which you or Mr. Bannerman would preside.
I think it would be useful if they were also given a paper they can
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take away with theca to study, or that can be furnished to them for them
to study before the briefing. I don't believe we should solicit their
concurrence necessarily, but they should be given the opportunity to
comment, offer suggestions, and voice objections.
Before presenting the DMC concept to either the IF Board or the
Support Office Directors I suggest that it be worked over rather com-
pletely.
As presently structured the paper seems intended more as a
Task Force tool than as a sales presentation. The introduction defines
a AMC "in our terms". Perhaps it would be better if we would find some
way to define it in the customers terms.
The same idea applies throughout the paper. The functions to
be performed by the Center are described in terms much more familiar
to systems people than to office Heads. The benefits listed are
system benefits and should be elaborated to highlight user benefits.
Why is this better for the user than having his own terminal on his
own desk?
The benefits are stated in terms of comparatives. setter
physical security -- better than what? Fewer personnel required ---
fewer than how many? Etc. This leads to the suggestion that we need
some comparisons of alternatives. Two alternatives to the Data
Management Center are (1) to project the installation of a terminal
on the desk of every user or (2) eliminate the interactive service
capability from the system design. There may be others but these two
can be disposed of in three or four paragraphs.
Perhaps the problem should be defined differently. This paper
says the problem is to assist Agency management in determining if
data management centers are feasible and result in savings while
providing, a centralized control environment for receipt and distri-
bution of information. This presupposes that a centralized control
environment is a desirable objective. A different definition of the
problem might be to establish the most effective, efficient, and
secure method of providing interactive service between users and
SIPS systems; to minimize the time lag between input preparation and
output distribution; to provide maximum protection for the integrity
of the data;;and to provide for the effective management of integrated
des'z~vi'ie:, :,n
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systems. This may be stating the problem in terms of the objectives
but the idea is to get a more basic definition of the problem. Perhaps
what I am suggesting is that we need a paper which will prove that the
data management center is the best solution to the interactive services
system problem. The secondary problem is to provide the space, staffing,
and procedures to operate it. Perhaps the difficulty with this paper
is that it seems to do both of these things at once.
I suggest that the plan of action for the Task Force could be
to prepare a paper which can be used to justify the creation of the
Data Management Center as the best solution to the problem of providing
interactive and off line services to the customers from the SIPS systems.
That a separate paper be prepared simultaneously which will address the
problem of quantifying the space, equipment, and personnel requirements/
The first paper can be presented to the IPC and the DDS Office Heads
and the second paper can become the basis for proceeding with the
installation.
25X1A
DDS/SSS/RHW:rf (20 November 1970)
Distribution:
Orig. & 1-Addressee
1-SSS Subject
1-SSS Chrono
SECRET
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