COPING WITH THE INFORMATION HANDLING PROBLEM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010026-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 19, 2004
• Sequence Number: 26
• Publication Date: April 5, 1974
• Content Type: MF

TH (L--./
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DCL/1C-74- 0987
5 April 1974
NDUM FOP.: Director of Central Intelligence
Coping with the Information Handling Problem.
1, Information handling and communication arrangements comprise
the, cos tral nervous system of the U. S. intelligence effort. These are
at the center of both analytic responsiveness and processing systems,
and, of course, are integral to crisis management. All Community
elements are involved in some degree with developing and designing
information and communications methods needed to do their jobs. In
the aggregate, these add to a very high cost item in the Community's
total resource commitment. lash of these, looked upon as a set of sub-
systems, has its own proper place; some, particularly in the field of
communications, are driven by technical change and decisions made
altogether outside of the intelligence community. Given the important
accent being placed upon crisis management in various N DMs and upon
your own concerns with presentation and the exploration of improved
analytic techniques, the IC gaff foals it is timely to consider the
Community's information handling systems in a more futuristic context
and in consideration of the variables involved. including coot. R&D. etc.
Your recent appointment of I with responsibility
for conducting a survey of information handling and presentation in the
Intelligence Community together with possible R&D in this field is an
important first stop in reflecting your direct concern with this subject.
As an indication of CIA thinking in this area, copies have been provided
I F of comments of the Deputy Directors on a draft IC m-emoran-
-February 1974 on "Coping with the Intelligence Information
Minot Problem".
3. Tb* following guidelines are suggested for your use in discussions
with and others. They reflect comments we have received
from yourself, the Deputy Directors of CIA, and discussions held among
Dr. Hall, General Davidson, General Graham, and the Undersigned an the
earlier IC paper.
25X1
25X1
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d, In support of the decisions which will be required of the DCI.
the USIS numbers, the IRAC, and individual program managers on
matter of communication of intelligence data, information handlin
systems, and information presentation, it is important that:
a. The nature, resources involved, current planning for, and
wed future progress of existing single agency and Community
systems be identified;
U. The future analytic environment and its data needs be
projected insofar as possible;
e. Plaani and development of current and projected systems
be influoncod. so as to ensure an adequate degree of compatibility
and system interchange at the lowest reasonable cost to meet the
?.sea i*I needs of all consumers; and
periodic evaluation of ongoing systems be accompli
orted upon to the USIB and IRAC.
In scoping the problem, focus should be on what the analyst can
sad will use in the way of automated data support. There needs to be
assurance that tmovations will in fact better serve the ultimate consumer
of t h* intelligence output by contributing to improved quality. scope, and
timeliness of intelligence products. We need to find now approaches to
machinery and words (or numbers) can support and supplement
bumsn brain in perceiving and analyzing situations. This goes well
beyond the storage and retrieval function and reaches as well into new
mesas of communicating intelligence to consumers.
The USIB/IRC mechanism should serve the Community and:
aa. Provide a focal point for technical knowledge an the
chaaraacterisstics of Information systems in operation and in the
go;
compatibility of software between systems to be
developed and these already in asdetenco to the went possible;
enrage increased use of central files, and
d. Conduct and encourage others to conduct studies and
es reriments to investigate new methods and techniques for
perceiving. collating, and analyzing diverse information and data.
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5. In furtherance o lefforts, we would propose to:
a. Task the USIB Information Handling Committee to provide
the information, studies, and such other support as
he may require in pursuit of your instruction.
b. Request provide D/DCI/IC with his judgments
on the structure and focus of the IHC in general and on any augmenta-
tion he feels may be necessary with representatives from other major
elements of the Community. Our presumption is that the IHC role
should be broader than automatic data processing alone and should
include both a communications and a user focus. LHC should also,
we feel, be sensitive to presentation forms, etc. insofar as these
may be effected by information handling methodologies.
6. We recommend that you:
a. Advise USIB and IRAC of your personal support to this effort
and enlist their cooperation;
b. Authorize formation of an Information Systems Advisory
Group to be chaired by and include selective representa.. 25X1
tion of appropriate government agencies and outside consultants. The
critical factor here is to make available to the effort a breadth of
expertise and ability to provide guidance to future applications of
available and anticipated technology;
c. Authorize the D/DCI/IC and/o o seek out and 25X1
employ contract research assistance to work wit and through the
IHC to the extent feasible on special matters which may be beyond
our in-house competence.
25X1
The recommendations contained in
paragraph 6 above are approved:
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Distribution:
O & 1 - Addressee (1 to be returned to ICS)
1-ER
1 - DDCI
25X1 1 -
~l - IC Registry
1 - D/DCI/IC
1 - AD/DCI/IC
3-CS
1 - Chairman, IHC
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 ebbG 1AEb CoGIMM UWAMa~ulT~AAMMMARY
INTERNAL COORDINATION
Action Officer: Title and Signature
Officer
Action
Initials
2
Coordination a
Phone Number 6238
Subject:
Coping with the
Information Handling
Problem
Summary
PURPOSE:
To present IC views of actions which should be taken to improve
the Community response to information handling problems.
BACKGROUND:
The memorandum opposite is a revision of the 8 February
memorandum on which you provided guidance (reflected particularly
in paragraph 4. b.) and on which comments were provided by all
of the Deputy Directors. These comments and your appointment
of Dr. Martin as Special Assistant to you have resulted in
considerable change in the thrust of the memorandum.
The revision has been reviewed by the A/DDS&T who concurs,
and by the A/DDI who is still concerned "that we do not push
the Director into a position of endorsing some grandiose and
extremely expensive programs which, in all probability, would
not work. " The IC proposal suggests guidance useful, we feel,
in coping with the situation and proposes employing existing
mechanisms of the USIB and your own office to energize attention
to the issues involved. It is not intended to commit you to any
particular plan. The A/DDI comments are attached.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It is recommended you use the memorandum opposite as basis
for discussion with as to the scope of his efforts.
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s cornmen ts
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Taken off Daily Journal per
All other cys to
D
, 16 May 74.
No further action, at this time.
asked if we should pursue any further with DCI,
no answer.
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