The Utility of Organizational Behavior Analysis to the Office of Strategic Research

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B00972A000100410012-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 31, 1998
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: February 12, 1969
• Content Type: MF

25X1A5a1
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 Approved For Release 2000/05 P00972A000100410012-3
decisions and the decision-making process, it might
substantially narrow our view of the range of likely
Soviet behavior. We have some research along these
lines already planned. (See the attached extract
25X1A9a from submission for the 5 years research
program goals).
3. The highly structured, bureaucratic nature
of Soviet society, and the extensive open discussion
of organizational matters should be an advantage in
setting the framework for understanding how their
organizations actually operate. This advantage is
probably more than offset, however, by the fact that
we will be unable to directly observe Soviet organiza-
tions in action. Such observation -- i.e., the case
study approach -- has played an important role in
developing US organizational theory. The data base
for our efforts undoubtedly will be quite skimpy.
There is probably much less relevant intelligence
information available than seems to believe.
4. On the basis of the considerations and judg-
ments outlined above, the following specific proposals
are offered:
a. Approximately one man-year would
be allocated to investigating and demon-
strating the utility to OSR of organiza-
tional behavior analysis. This effort
25X1A5a1
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would be centered in SR/PA with SR/SF
and SR/TF contributing primarily on a
consulative basis. The SR/PA effort
would be about equally split between
PA/S and PA/M.
b. Consideration of external contracts
or extensive consultant commitments
would be deferred until completion of
our initial efforts.
c. Close contact would be maintained
with on a consulting 25X1A5a1
basis and that we take full advantage
of the offer in his letter "to be of
whatever help I can." Specifically,
he can probably be of invaluable assis-
tance in setting up the terms of refer-
ence for our initial effort.
d. I suggest that (pA/M) 25X1A9a
and (PA/S) be collaborat- 25X1A9a
ing analysts on this project. M has 25X1A9a
studied this subject -- probably more
than anyone else in OSR -- and _ is 25X1A9a
now taking a course in analysis for de-
cision-making in which his term paper
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topic will be on institutional factors.
The paper can be classified and will
focus on the USSR.
5. The Programs Analysis Division would solicit
suggestions from the Strategic and Theater Forces Divi-
sions and will consult them on our terms of reference.
25X1A9a
hief
Programs Analysis Division, OSR
Attachment: a/s
001046821
3L 617
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