CIA INFORMATION SCIENCE TRAINING PROGRAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-06207A000100040026-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 22, 2002
• Sequence Number: 26
• Publication Date: July 20, 1972
• Content Type: MF

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2 0 JUL 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Support
SUBJECT CIA information Science Tr*
9
I. This memorandum addresses th p1Icatton of Information
ice and Menaaement Science to intelTTgence tasks and management.
onoerne the training of intelligence professionals In Information
ace and Management Science subject areas with true intelligence
It is submitted for the purpose of providing background infor-
affecting questions of policy, staffing and funding and repre-
the current DTR view of the nature and desired objectives of
tog rem.
2. Intelligence Is essentially a special kind of Information
handling process ch shares 'nervy of the principles, practices, and
problems with other more ordinary information handling systems. Most
Intelligence tasks involve information handling In one form or another.
The intelligence organization collects, researches, files, sorts,
retrieves. compares. computes, interprets, analyzes, evaluates, collates,
cerreletes, up-dates, revises, communicates, and disseminates infor-
mation (Intelligence). Many of the personnel who do this work are In
reality, performing specialized information handling tasks. The body
of knowledge and the methodology dealing with systematic and scientific
solutions to these tasks are called information Science end combine
such approaches at Systems Analysis, Operations Research, and Computers
Systems. Each approach utilizes such specific methods as Queuing,
Network Analysis and Simulation. These approaches and methods are
relevant to the intelligence process. For example, the analysis of
roll, highway, inland waterway, airline and pipeline networks can be
aided materially by the use of Network Analysis and Queuing Theory tech-
niques. Similarly, the analysis of industrial production and associated
military capabilities can be advanced with the use of Linear Programming,
Correlation and Regression Analysis and Statistical Methods.
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3. Management ScIence refers to the application of Information
Science to the management functions of planning, organizing, controlling
and decision-inking. Planning concerns itself with forecasting, particu-
lorly for Ione lead time intelligence projects such as those associated
with new collection, production or communications systems. Often these
systems will become operational five or more years hence and have a pro-
ductive life of from five to fifteen years in the future. Therefore,
forecasting is an essential element of planning. Although some inherent
uncertainties will remain the best available forecasting methods should
be utilized to include Modeling, Simulation, Correlation and Regression
Analysis, Probability. Linear Programming and the Bayes Decision Method.
Two of the major components of a Planning. Programming and Budgeting
System are Systems Analysis and the Management Information System.
nmaegement Science concepts are essential to the evaluation of alter-
natives in supporting decision-making responsibilities of Management.
4. The applications of information Science and Management Science
be both complex and simple. In efforts as intricate as those
ved in the collection and production of intelligence, there will
be complex applicetions which will remain principally within
rview of the system specialist and a technical staff. It is
true that there are a host of ordinary applications well within
cepebilittes of the non-system specialist. We believe that most
sional employees of the Agency (perhaps as high as all can, if
ly trained, apply information Science and Management Science
in doily work routines Ilidth beneficial results. Additionally,
rstanding of the methodology and the associated technology of
on Science acquired by the non-specialist In training will give
pprociation of the "fit" of complex systems applications which
may support or affect his area of responsibility. This understanding
is essential to the effective collaboration of systems specialists and
nonspecialists in solving substantive intelligence problems. Training
should enable the non-specialist (system 'ler) to derive maximum benefits
from the expensive, specialized systems avallable In the Agency. It
will, then, be the purpose of the information Science Training Program
to promote the use of modern information handling systems end methodology
In the Agency via practical, applied training programs for non-!pecislist
sue personnel.
5. Thi *pp cations of information Science In the Agency have been
highly specialized and somewhat limited. As a consequence many of our
pro, essional personnel, including managers end supervisors at all levels,
are unaware of potential applications of modern scientific methods, do
not understand the associated technology, and lack training In the use of
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t 11 pence environment. Therefore, we are not optimistic
s for this training will stem from the recognized want,s
omer offices. We should not expect to have customers
no service that is neither well-known nor broadly
utility, and subsequent recognition of needs will come
mystery and apprehensions surrounding the new methodology
ogy are dealt with openly, and dispelled in an effective
grogram which elearly demonstrates the brood applicability of
t matter to the substantive Intelligence and support tasks
A successful Infonetlen Science and Management Science
TreIntng Program In FY 1971 should assist materially In generating an
f the value of the program and subsequent demands for training
6. The limited pertIcIpation of the Agency in the programs of the
r Mnformetion Science Center (ISO can be attributed In large part
ran factors. in the first place, and despite concerted OTA efforts
many CIA managers end employees were unaware of the existence of the
IBC program. &money, courses offered at the 1St tended to be much
too hien" and, a deterrent to broader participation. Thirdly, Agency
participation wes limited by an Inter-agency quote system. Even so,
ilme 1970 there has been a neer unanimity of student participant opinion
thet the courses were highly useful. The Office of Finance his been
particularly strong In Its praise of the program even though ths courses
offered were not focused on their needs. Other graduates have been able
Us employ their learning In a variety of ways. A Foreign Missile and
Space Analysis Officer (FMSAC) has used the SIPS/GINS system to build
fliSAC Intelligence files and for on-line storage and retrieval. The same
application has been employed to produce the Quarterly Foreign Missile
and Space Activity Intelligence Summery. Another graduate has made
unanticipated utilization of the SIPS/GINS system, primarily a DOS support
*viten, for intelligence production purposes. An Office of Scientific
Besmirch (OSR) officer has made an additional use of the 25X1A
lyitee for the analysis of ICBM capabilities. This system was developed
eflitinelly to aid In the analysis of ground forces. Two Office of Finance
officers have /Opted the storage and retrieval and file building pro,-
grams used In the ISC courses to the control of Agency financial records.
A Clandestine Services Officer has completed a study applying Queuing
Theory, Statistical Analysis and Probability to a routine task with an
enticipeted good results. Me has also applied Sampling, Contents Analysis
and Statistical Analysis to a reporting problem. incidently. none of the
examples required the development of costly new systems. They do suggest
a variety of applications and Illustrate the need for understanding and
cooperation betemenlar. and system specialist if the potentials of existln9
aystems are to be realized.
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? Information Science tr.1aing with direct intelligence focus
be obtained from any known outside source. It is net ;meltable
aun Ivrs It las, consultants, manufacturers or at other Government
LW quisl-Government training facilities. We have reached this con-
cluelen after reviewing the content of a large number of these programs.
Furthermore, employees who have attended outside courses in this field
have rfl*ct.ds consistent view that the external courses, while
excellent in themselves, are more relevant to industrial or to non
Intelligence functions than they are to Intelligence. ("A good course
but it didn't apply to my job"). A recent contractor-managed one-week
course In Systeme Analysis and Operations Research was conducted In
the Agency. This was primarily a course for "users" and was in our
view,a fine effort. However, during the week not a single intelligence
related example or application was cited by the Instructor. He was
Woollier with Agency activities and simply could not know how the
techniques applied to the responsibilities of the students. At best
hls leaves the student to guess at the relevance of the methods or,
at worn, to reject them because applicability has not been showm.
ever in of an Agency external training in CV 1972 was In some *spec
ef the Information Science. This Indicates a search for knowledge of
coneiderable magnitude. However, this inability to demonstrate con-
vincingly the application of Information Science methods or technology
to intelligence tasks using intelligence data and Intelligence examples
in lectures, demonstrations and exercises Is a major limitation of the
externel training course. This is not to say that all external training
In information Science Is without value. Graduate level courses can
provide excellent theoretical foundations for system professionals who
need to study advanced methods In greet depth and thoroughness. Also
external short courses may be highly useful for individuals with exten
sive systems backgrounds who need to teem specific techniques. Tech-
otail at all levels will continue to require a variety of
external training in hardware and software areas. External training
hes many useful applications but cannot meet the need to train
WIC* personnel to use and apply systems methods to everyday Intel I I-
vaco tasks.
4. In FY 1973 the t formation Science Training Program will rmaIn
In the former facilities of the 1SC at the Defense intelligence School.
The program will be managed by CIA and two of the three assigned faculty
ambers are from the Agency. The third faculty member is an NSA staff
officer. Programs for broad Intelligence Community participation will
be reduced in length and frequency. Concurrently, and for the first
ties, Important blocs of instruction in Information Science and Manage
meet Science will be introduced into such selected 0Th courses as the
Senior Salim. and In the Xidcereer, Intelligence and World Affairs,
and intelligence Production courses. We estimate that with the instructor
esiel facility resources available to us in FY 1973 we will be obi* to
provide approxlmetely 23 weeks of Instruction reaching a total of 620
students. Of this number as many as 540 students may be from CIA. All
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instruction 1973 wIll continue to employ the hIghly effective,
prectl s-on" trainingtechniques still possible in the
facilities of the Defense intellIgence School.
9 In FT 1974 the *mount of programming will be directly related
to the level of instructor staffing. if we are authorized but three
instructors, we will be limited toe 23 training week level of effort
with emphasis on the shorter, orientation-type courses and course segments
scheduled for FY 1973. However, it Is our strong view that the Agency
will derive significsatly greater benefits from a program which permits
the scheduling of some longer training courses (six to eight weeks),
end allows time for the development of basic skills on the part of the
students. We know from our experience In the ISC program that graduates
of such skills courses dolma information Science methods in the longer
courses and canimpli these methods to intelligence tasks. However, a
staff consisting o ram five to seven Instructors, and two to three
eecreterial/ciericel personnel, will be necessary to support a program
Incorporating skills courses. Also, the kind of training that can be
Wowed In FY 1974 will be conditioned by the nature of the facilities
available for our use. It Is unlikely that we will have access to the
present Defense intelligence School facility, complete with computer
terminals end access to intelligence data banks, beyond FY 1973. It has
been the consistent experience of the 1SC programs that the most effective
IOW of teaching Information Science Is to employ practical, terminal
"hends-on" teaching methods, not only in the skills courses but in orients
time programs as well. Without terminal facilities we ere relegated to
orfontetion ("telk") courses of doubtful effectiveness. If an effective
program Is expected, the fectll les should permit practical terminal
work.
10. In summery the proposed Informeti
may be defined In the following steps:
A. Requirements stem from Agency s to apply the
meet advanced analytical methods to-Thfailigence tasks
to enable It to realize a maximum return from the large
Investments in information handling systems. Customer
*winds. gr wegts, are still 111..defined and probably
will remain so until a brooder base of Information
SCIOA40 knowledge prevails in the Agency.
I. Training will focus on the needs of the non-systems
specialists em UMWS to enable him to interface
mere effective y wt systems specialists in areas of
common concern and to understand the applications of
Informatiek Science methods to Intel !ponce tasks
lence Training Prog
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Ining program will represent a structured
courses for personnel of various levels
ranging from simple orientation to
of skills in the functional areas of
collection and production, management,
support and other more specialized tasks. Course
lengths will vary with objectives.
D. Smelts wlil derive from the exposure of a
sl IfIcant number of Agency employees to new analyt1
c1 thods applicable to wide variety of Agency
tasks.
We are that there is no magic in the Information
Se ace or Management Science subject area that ensures success.
must provide high quality courses In appropriate facilities
with highly qualified Instructors. The acceptance and support o
management must be gained at all levels. Information on the courses
mat roach prospective students and their supervisors in via effective
and timely communicetions. Although, these goals are not easily
achieved they are attainable and some considerable progress has been
mule. We believe the program Is completely feasible.
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Distribution:
Orig & 1 Adse
2 - DTR
1 -
2 - SIWA
OTR/S1WA
sks (19 Jul 72)
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CUMMINIDAK
of Training
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