COMMENTS ON THE MAG FEEDBACK PAPER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01495R000900010003-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 19, 2005
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: December 14, 1973
• Content Type: MEMO

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SUBJECT: Comments on the MAG Feedback Paper
1. It is recognized that feedback is an important mechanism
for the evaluation of Agency performance. Regarding inputs
from the ultimate consumers of the information it would appear
that this activity is one of paramount concern to the appropriate
National Intelligence Officer. Therefore, that while feedback may
have been deficient in the past, it now appears likely that the
situation will improve because of the existence of the NIOs. The
big question arises as to what form this feedback will take. The
MAG paper implies a mechanistic, highly formal approach which
may be doomed to failure simply because the high level consumer
is not inclined to sit down and grade in any formal way the intel-
ligence support that he receives.
2. The Publications 5ni~i,e LU5,, , da ,qrd.
t e Studi s. For the past several years, annual reports
have been prepared and disseminated to the front offices in the
Agency. During the year the data base is used to provide informa-
tion to both production and collection offices. In the case of the
DDO, they work quite extensively with us on the exploitation of
the PSS data. It is assumed that a member of the MAG heard a-
bout it through one of these means and decided that since it was a
viable data base it might be made more useable to management.
However, and before any changes are made in its content and for-
mat, we should look carefully at what we intend for this rather
simple system for cataloguing and recording value judgments on
the collection programs used in our finished intelligence production
effort. Clear guidelines will have to be established that will
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structure the input and aid in the evaluation of the output if this
project is expanded into the community.
3. My greatest concern about the MAG paper concerns
what has been called ' ractiona 1a? tamaa? " I assume that this
term is being used to isolate certain kinds of reporting from the
finished intelligence that we have identified for inclusion in the
PSS. Therefore, the actionable reporting must include type-
script or highly sensitive DDO/FIRS. This reporting probably
is developed by request from department heads or the NSC, by
the DCI who feels that an event, situation or circumstance
ought to be expeditiously reported via typescript or by the se-
lection of hot DDO reports that are deemed germane to a current
crisis situation. Here again, it is doubtful that any ultimate
consumer would be willing or in fact be. able to sit down and pro-
vide feedback because (1) he may not have all the pieces to per-
mit feedback; and (2) he may not have the time to do so even if
he were so inclined.
4. The 1Vf A c~r m Pm n ; n one-.rs
rected to~1.g:at:_ of coltectiran ,s~y#aa s,. ;,ul
ading, ,.lt alo..:pp.ears to
1
y9w.
p xad
In czn
the production context, the proposal seems to be suggesting
that the quality of the finished product can be improved through
feedback from the consumer and that a secondary result of this
feedback will be to improve upon the various collection programs
needed to develop the finished intelligence product. In other
words, it is very difficult to isolate these two aspects of the
intelligence process within the context of the MAG Study.
5. The other two items mentioned in the Study. have
been looked at periodically and at present are of concern to the
Human Source Committee, that is, forward planning as we see
it from the collection guidance point of view and identification
of marginal collection programs and efforts. The HSC has sev-
eral projects under way that will result in recommendations for
improvement on these two matters. It is doubtful that similar
problems exist in the SIGINT and the RECCE world. They may
exist in the DDO and this is a question that could be addressed
by that organization.
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6. The MAG Study identifies some of the managerial
activities that are under consideration. There are others that
relate to the problems stated. The tools that the DCI has at
hand to help him manage are the NIOs, IC Staffers, objectives,
DCID 1/2, USIB committees. All reflect upon management of
community collection and production resources. The virtue of
the MAG paper may be that by drawing attention to several
problems at this time, it may in effect accelerate efforts toward
their solution.
25X1
Assistant for Programs Guidance
DDI/Information Requirements Staff
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SUBJECT: The Definitive Word on
"Actionable Intelligence"
My MAG informant tells me
that lots of others have had
trouble with this term. In DDO
parlance, action ble intelligence
is that which a Station reports
back to Headquarters i ded for
passa e_ tto othe?x agencies. Theses
agencies are~xected to take some
action n the basis of the intel-
ligence_jh.e - have received from
CIA.,,., For example, if the COS/
Beirut reports that possible BSO
types have applied for visas to
the U.S., "actionable intelligence"
is sent to the Department and
possibly the FBI for appropriate
action.
What the author apparently
means by "actionable intelligence"
is what we would call "warning
intelligence."
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-MEMORANDUM FOR:
Attached are some thoughts
ave on the
MAG paper on "feedback".
17 December 1973
(DATE)
BEM 10-101
I AUGN 54 101 WHICH RELACES
25X1
25X1
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