STUDY OF USIB INFORMATION PROCESSING ACTIVITIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01139A000200080005-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 3, 2004
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: June 1, 1961
• Content Type: STUDY

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C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L
CODIB-D-82/6
1 June 1961
Limited Distribution
UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOARD
COMMITTEE ON DOCUMENTATION
Study of USIB Information Processing Activities
1. In accordance with my statement at the last CODIB meeting. I am passing
to each member a copy of my briefing note to Mr. Dulles on our proposed
Community survey.
2. Feel free to use it as you think best in briefing your own superiors.
Attachment
C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I--A-L
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF CENTRAL REFERENCE'
1 June 1961
MEMORANDUM FOR: The Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: Study of USIB Information Processing Activities
REFERENCES: a. -DCID 1/4: Committee on Documentation,
26 June 1959.
b. CODIB Second Annual Report to USIB, 30 June
1960, pp. 15-18 (CODIB-All-21USIB-D-39.3/2),
c. USIB-M-115, para. 5.
d. CODIB Progress Report to USIB, 1 March 1961
(CODIB-D-73/2; USIB-D-39.5/5).
e. USIB-M-144, para. 10.c.
ENCLOSURE: CODIB-D-82/5, 1 June 1961, sub): Terms of Reference
for Study of USIB Information Processing Problems.
BACKGROUND
1. On 7 March, the USIB directed the Committee on Documentation
"to prepare a plan for conducting a study of the
information processing activities of the Intelligence
Community. The study should seek to establish and
define long-range goals, with particular emphasis on
considerations attending the use of automatic data
processing and the development of compatible systems.
The plan- is to be submitted to the USIB for approval."
(USIB-M-144, para. 10.c.)
2. In response to this directive, CODIB has prepared the attached plan. It
has. the unanimous approval of each member of our Committee.
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DISCUSSION
3. The action proposed under this outline plan is entirely consistent with the
objectives of CODIB under its present USIB charter. While the action was initiated
by CODIB. it should be noted that developments since we took the initiative have
confirmed the wisdom of going ahead. The Congress is taking an increasing
interest in the information processing problems of the Government (and the U. S.
as a whole), the Bureau of the Budget is likewise increasingly concerned, as is
the reconstituted President's Board on Foreign Intelligence Activities.
4.. The present effort is also responsive to the position taken by the Joint
Study Group, which saw the need for (a) bringing into balance the development.
of automatic data processing equipments and the techniques for effectively
utilizing them; (b) a more effective coordination of major efforts to develop
automatic systems to store and retrieve information; and (o) a considerable
strengthening of USIB's long-range.planning effort (JSG Report, pp. 125-131).
5. We have restated our individual and collective needs for this study in
various parts of the proposed plan (see especially paras. 2 and 11), and have
also set forth the prospective results (see paras. 27-31).
6. It would be foolhardy to mislead you by saying that thin is an easy task,
which can be inexpensively accomplished, and which will for certain yield
Impressive economies. To the contrary, the task is a difficult one, I judge
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more difficult than any study yet undertaken in the Intelligence Community.
7. Qualified people to carry out this assignment are scarce now and would
be in increasing demand during the course of the survey. The survey itbeif
will be costly in time and money, particularly when the costs of dislocation of
operating personnel contacted in carrying it out.
8. As to the promise o1 results, those may well not fully materialize.
Quantitative data is of considerable less importance than qualitative judgments
in this situation. Much will depend upon how good a group can be assembled,
how well they work, and how much cooperation its members are given. In this
ca so, better no effort than a half-hearted one.
9. But we have no choice. This effort, or something like it, was needed
long ago. Now. it Is imperative. Failing this, we can carry on as we have in
the past - nibbling on the edges of our problems - but one might well conclude
that it may hardly be worth the effort if past accomplishments are any guide.
RECOMMENDATION
10. That you fully support the present proposal and seek for it the full
support of your colleagues on the Board.
cc: Assistant for Coordination, DCI
Members, CODIB
Executive Secretary, USIB
Secretary, CODIB
Assistant Director
Central Reference
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