PROGRESS REPORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-05246A000100030020-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 3, 2002
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: March 31, 1959
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2002/05/14: CIA-RDP78-05246A0001'00030020-'
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in n 0,26 1&'ESUMN
TO : Deputy Comptro
FROM : Chairman, Financial Code Structure
Task Group - FMI Program
suBJECT: Progress Report
DATE:31 March 1959
1. On 20 and 24 March 1959, your Committee met in Curie Hall 25X1
(MRD) with representatives of Plans, Intelligence, Logistics and
Personnel to explain the over-all objective of designing a Financial
Code Structure to provide tabulations that would meet the requirements
of the respective users for financial data. In attendance were:
Intelligence
Logistics
Personnel
25X1A9A
25X1A9A
25X1A9A
2. In explanation of machine methods and to indicate machine
limitations, the Chief, MRD, conducted the group on a tour of the
plant and explained briefly the basic functions of the various
machines and their part in the development of financial statements
and tabulations. The group was then advised of the importance of
providing a code that would be sufficiently flexible to enable MRD
to meet the requirements of all users of data and thereby eliminate,
wherever possible, the need for side-record keeping by B&F Officers.
3. The representatives of Intelligence and Plans assured your
Committee they would review their requirements and furnish a list of
items they would like to have within a week to ten.days.
4. On Monday, 23 March, Committee Member and your
Chairman were invited to attend a briefing session of the B&F Officers
of the Intelligence Group. At this meeting, explained
the objectives of the Committee and requested the B' Of cers to
review their requirements and submit lists thereof to his Office 1for
coordination and transmittal to the Committee.
5. In the course of this meeting, several of the BGF Officers
spoke of the problems they were now facing with respect to machine
tabulations of data on confidential funds. Among the problems indi-
cated were:
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a, Insufficient data by sub-object
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b. Insufficient data on property issuances,
c. Delay in receiving data run on machines (indicated earli-
est date the 20th of the month).
d. Incorrect allotment symbol coding resulting in red balances.
Of greatest concern was the incorrect coding. The contention was that
even though the error was not made at the B&F Office level, the only
way in which it could be corrected was by journal voucher initiated by
the B&F Officer. The feeling was that this method placed a heavy and
unfair burden on the B6F Officers. Several instances of coding error
were called to our attention by the B&F Officer for 00/Contact.
Cursory investigations of these cases disclosed these errors to have
occurred with respect to property issuances. Without further researching
we cannot determine the level at which the error was originally com-
mitted. Since this situation seems to be one that tends to create doubt
in the minds of the B6F Officers as to the general reliability of
machine tabulation data, your Committee believes it advisable that an
investigation be made.
6. It is recommended, therefore, that a task force be assigned
to study coding errors., disclose the operating level at which they
occurred, make recommendations of methods whereby incidence of coding
error can be substantially reduced or eliminated and prescribe, if
possible, a method for correction of error that places responsibility
for adjustment on the responsible unit.
7. Meanwhile, your Committee has been holding daily sessions
and taking preliminary steps in the design of a code it believes will
provide for a major portion of anticipated requirements. In addition,
the B&F Officers are being contacted to determine the types of side-
records they are now keeping by hand-posting methods.
25X1A9A
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